Scrambling to fix production problems can lead to a host of other issues. FMEA, or failure modes and effects analysis, can help align your efforts with the issues that can cause the most headaches. Failures come in all degrees, with some more important than others. Preparing to work on your first FMEA may appear to be a daunting task. Many things can go wrong, including some that you had not even considered beforehand. But that’s the point. Understanding the risk up front means not having to deal with it during production when you are more likely to apply Band-Aids and temporary fixes.
Read more about applying Failure Modes & Effects Analysis to metalforming in the January 2018 issue of MetalForming Magazine at http://www.metalformingmagazine.com/magazine/article/?/2018/1/1/See_the_Future_by_Exploring_the_Past
Failure Modes & Effects Analysis in Sheet Metal Forming
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About the Author: Danny Schaeffler
Danny received his Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, and a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Materials Engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. While at Drexel, Danny held engineering and research positions with the David Taylor Research Center (Annapolis, MD) and Hoeganaes Corporation (Riverton, NJ).
After receiving his Doctorate, Danny started at the LTV Steel Technology Center (Independence, OH), where he was a member of the Customer Technical Center, focused on customer-based problem solving in the areas of corrosion, formability, and surface contaminants. He then transferred into the Automotive Development Group, focused on formability analysis and training; materials selection and optimization; tooling development and production launches for new vehicle programs; customer materials & manufacturing cost reduction efforts; forming/denting/structural computer simulation; and technical awareness and communications with the automotive manufacturers and their Tier One / Tier Two companies. Danny's first position in the ADG was as the engineer responsible for all transplant accounts, and then moved to having responsibility for the Ford Motor account, before being promoted to the Group Manager. During his time with LTV Steel, Danny was active in AISI and Auto/Steel Partnership activities, serving as Chairman of the Standardized Dent Resistance Test Project as well as participating in other committees. Danny is the founding member of Engineering Quality Solutions, Inc.
Danny has over a dozen publications and is a member of ASM International, SAE International, and is a former President of the North American Deep Drawing Research Group (www.NADDRG.org).
