What does FMEA stand for?

FMEA stands for Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, a systematic approach used to identify and evaluate potential failure modes within a process or product and their possible effects on outcomes. This methodology is crucial in quality management and risk assessment as it allows teams to prioritize potential failures based on their severity, occurrence, and detection likelihood. By proactively addressing these issues, organizations can develop strategies to mitigate risks, enhance product reliability, and improve overall quality.

Understanding FMEA is important for implementing effective quality practices, as it aligns with preventative measures that help organizations avoid costly mistakes and ensure customer satisfaction. The other choices given do not accurately reflect the established meaning of FMEA within the quality and engineering contexts.