What is considered an acceptable RPN?
The answer to that question depends on the organization. For example, an organization may decide any RPN above a maximum target of 100 presents an unacceptable risk and must be reduced. If so, then an action plan identifying who will do what by when is needed. There are many tools to aid the PFMEA team in reducing the relative risk of failure modes requiring action. Among the most powerful tools are Mistake-Proofing, Statistical Process Control, and Design of Experiments. Mistake-Proofing (Poka’ Yoke) Techniques that can make it impossible for a mistake to occur, reducing the Occurrence ranking to 1. Especially important when the Severity ranking is 10. Statistical Process Control (SPC) A statistical tool that helps define the output of a process to determine the capability of the process against the specification and then to maintain control of the process in the future. Design of Experiments (DOE) A family of powerful statistical improvement techniques that can identify the most crit
