Review of Failure Analysis Methodologies and Procedures Applicable to Complex Electronic Systems

Failure analysis is a fundamental part of system safety and reliability, and allows early design decision-making in order to extend the life of systems and avoid accidents. Currently, there are multiple standard methodologies for performing failure analysis, being FMECA (Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis) one of the best known and most applied in multiple sectors. However, the FMECA methodology is an extraordinarily complex and time-consuming task, especially in the case of electronic systems that contain a high number of components. Nowadays, for generating feasible FMECA analyses it is necessary to assume simplifications, hypotheses and subjective criteria that limit the scope of the analysis and drastically affect the quality and credibility of the results. Simulation and automation tools are an ideal and necessary complement to provide FMECA analyses with greater accuracy and less subjectivity in the results obtained, as well as greater efficiency in the time spent on the analysis.