8.6

Space Shuttle Challenger O - Ring Failure (Use of FMEA to Study O - Ring Failure)

Review the Space Shuttle Challenger O - Ring Failure case study in Section 8.6 . Use the O - ring failure on the space shuttle Challenger as an example to practice identifying function, failure mode, effect, cause, and controls based on the O - ring failure history. Try the following exercises.

Identify a function

Write down on a memo pad a possible function of the O - ring in SRB of the space shuttle Challenger .

Identify a failure mode

Write down on a memo pad a possible failure mode of the O - ring.

Identify an effect

Write down on a memo pad a possible effect of the O - ring failure mode on the SRB and the crew of the space shuttle Challenger .

Identify a severity

Write down on a memo pad the severity of the effect of the O - ring failure mode on the SRB and the crew of the space shuttle Challenger . Refer to Chapter 3 , Section 3.5 for an example of a severity scale.

Identify a cause

Write down on a memo pad a possible cause of the O - ring failure mode.

Identify a control (prevention type)

Write down on a memo pad a possible prevention - type control for the cause of the O - ring failure mode.

Identify a control (detection type)

Write down on a memo pad a possible detection - type control for the cause of the O - ring failure mode.

Identify a recommended action

Write down on a memo pad a possible recommended action for the cause of the O - ring failure mode.