FMEA parameter diagram

The P diagram (parameter diagram) is used to prepare an .

It shows:

The transformation of the inputs into the outputs
The “noise factors” that affect the system
The control factors (the development variables)
The categorization of the outputs into “intended” and “unintended”.

The P diagram thus helps the development team to better understand the physical and functional connections.

The noise factors can, in turn, be divided into five categories:

Variation from unit to unit
Wear/fatigue
Customer usage
Environmental effects
Interactions with corresponding systems

The control factors present the design options available to the development team. The opportunities of achieving the aim of “robust design” are developed here. Robustness here means that the system is insensitive to the noise factors. The findings from the P diagram are integrated into the FMEA.

Fig. 1: FMEA parameter diagram, FMEA software, FMEA training (source: Dietz Consultants)

Fig. 2: P diagram – Input for the FMEA (source: Dietz Consultants)

Fig. 3: P diagram – Example hole punch, FMEA methodology, FMEA training, FMEA coaching (source: Dietz Consultants)