Back of the napkin FMEA

Back of the Napkin

FMEAa way to address simple issues

Created 2012

by Tom Curtis

Blog: www.onimproving.blogspot.com

Presentations: www.slideshare.net/onimproving  

Email: ideamerchants@gmail.com

Twitter: @onimproving

Note:This an adaptation of a serious business tool.This tool and deck will not address all issues and is not fit for complex or serious processes.

Terms:FMEA-Failure Mode and Effects Analysis

Failure Mode-Something that can go wrong

The FMEA is a tool to help us identify potential issues, assess, and address them. What follows is an adaptation of this business tool for simple personal processes and training.

Goal: identify and address potential issues

in a simple process

6 Steps1. List what could go wrong2. Rate how bad would it be3. Rate how likely is it4. Rate when you will be able to tell5. Calculate a score6. Address top issues

Example:

Going out to dinner

1. What could go wrong?

Not get a table

Not have cash

Not like the food

1. What could go wrong?

Not get a table

Not have cash

Not like the food

2.How Bad?5-Really Bad1-Not Bad

3

5

3

1. What could go wrong?

Not get a table

Not have cash

Not like the food

2.How Bad?5-Really Bad1-Not Bad

3

5

3

3.How Likely?5-Really Likely1-Not Likely

1

3

1

1. What could go wrong?

Not get a table

Not have cash

Not like the food

2.How Bad?5-Really Bad1-Not Bad

3

5

3

3.How Likely?5-Really Likely1-Not Likely

1

3

1

4.Could Tell?5-Too Late

1-Early

1

5

3

1. What could go wrong?

Not get a table

Not have cash

Not like the food

2.How Bad?5-Really Bad1-Not Bad

3

5

3

3.How Likely?5-Really Likely1-Not Likely

1

3

1

4.Could Tell?5-Too Late

1-Early

1

5

3

5.ScoreHigher=Worse

3

75

9

1. What could go wrong?

Not get a table

Not have cash

Not like the food

2.How Bad?5-Really Bad1-Not Bad

3

5

3

3.How Likely?5-Really Likely1-Not Likely

1

3

1

4.Could Tell?5-Too Late

1-Early

1

5

3

5.ScoreHigher=Worse

3

75

96. What are we going to fix and how?

Not Have Cash- Will push cash in wallet now

1. What could go wrong?

Not get a table

Not have cash

Not like the food

2.How Bad?5-Really Bad1-Not Bad

3

5

3

3.How Likely?5-Really Likely1-Not Likely

1

3

1

4.Could Tell?5-Too Late

1-Early

1

5

3

5.ScoreHigher=Worse

3

75

96. What are we going to fix and how?

Not Have Cash- Will push cash in wallet now

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1. What could go wrong? 2.How Bad?5-Really Bad1-Not Bad

3.How Likely?5-Really Likely1-Not Likely

4.Could Tell?5-Too Late

1-Early

5.ScoreHigher=Worse

6. What are we going to fix and how?