FMEA is used to be proactive and identify potential major problems; which elements are typically scored to determine risk?

• A. Be reactive and wait for problems to occur
• B. Focus solely on past failures
• C. Be proactive and identify potential major problems; score likelihood of occurrence, impact and detection
• D. Replace manual processes with automation only

Answer: (C)

FMEA is a proactive risk assessment method used to anticipate where failures could occur and how serious their consequences would be, so teams can prevent problems before they happen. The three elements typically scored are the likelihood that a given failure mode will occur, the severity of its impact if it does occur, and how easily the failure can be detected before it reaches the patient. These scores are combined to prioritize risks and guide mitigation efforts. This captures why the best choice emphasizes proactive identification of potential major problems and scoring likelihood, impact (severity), and detection. The other options describe reactive behavior, focusing only on past failures, or pursuing automation in isolation, none of which align with how FMEA prioritizes risk.