Application of the PFMEA for Risk Assessment in the Production Process

Abstract

Nowadays, risk is inherently related to managing an organization, regardless of its size and business profile. When implementing a strategy of effective enterprise management in a turbulent environment, it is necessary to apply an approach that includes comprehensive risk management in the organization, particularly in the implemented production processes. The latest update of the ISO 9001 and the IATF 16949 standards focused in particular on implementing a risk-based approach by organizations. The ISO 9001 standard guides organizations into applying a multidisciplinary approach to risk management in order to increase their adaptability in relation to changes taking place in both external and internal environment. The article presents an example of a risk management approach in a cast iron foundry based on the use of qualitative tools in order to improve the identification and elimination of both faults occurring in the process and their causes. The PFMEA process analysis is one of the risk management methods in the production process widely used in the automotive industry. The PFMEA analysis is an effective tool for identifying problematic areas, which contributes to ensuring the required quality of foundry products and improving the production process.