Which statement best describes the purpose of FMEA?

• A. To immediately correct errors after they occur
• B. To proactively identify and mitigate potential failure modes before they occur
• C. To assign blame for defects
• D. To document costs of quality

Answer: (B)

FMEA is about preventing failures before they happen by systematically identifying how a process or product could fail, what the effects would be, and what causes would lead to those failures, then planning measures to mitigate them. The core idea is to anticipate problems and act on them, rather than waiting to fix things after something goes wrong. By evaluating potential failure modes in terms of severity, likelihood, and detectability, teams can prioritize which issues to address and implement controls to reduce risk. This forward‑looking, preventive approach is why the statement about proactively identifying and mitigating potential failure modes before they occur is the best description. It’s used across fields to improve reliability and safety. It’s not about correcting errors after they occur, assigning blame, or simply documenting costs of quality.