• Selecting appropriate applications for the analysis. A FMEA can be authorized by individuals at various levels within an organization or may be required by ISO9000, QS-9000, APQP, or Six Sigma methodologies; internal quality programs; or customer requirements. Whether authorized or required, a detailed level FMEA is expensive to complete. Such a FMEA should be completed only in instances where the benefits outweigh the costs.

• Identifying and allocating resources. These resources include FMEA team members, physical space to conduct the analysis and store documentation, hardware such as computers for communications and performing analysis, and time.

• Defining scope. Because a FMEA can be conducted at a high level (system level) or a very detailed level (part level) and because a high-level FMEA can lead to additional FMEAs at a more detailed level, it is very important to set the scope of the analysis before it begins.

• Expectations and deliverables. FMEA team members have multiple responsibilities and reporting structures. Because they have other tasks that are not FMEA-related, it is critical that performance expectations for all FMEA team members be clearly defined and communicated directly to supervisory or managerial personnel. Managers must be aware of the FMEA tasks their staff are to perform and how much time these tasks are likely to take. It is equally important that all FMEA team members understand what deliverables are to result from the analysis and their respective roles in developing those deliverables. Effectively communicating roles, responsibilities, and time demands up front ensure that resource conflicts do not occur.

• Establishing milestones, due dates, and deadlines. Key milestones for a FMEA include authorization for the analysis, establishment of a reporting structure, allocation of resources, gathering input for the analysis, completing the analysis, taking and monitoring corrective action, preparing documentation, creating final reports, and debriefings. To ensure effectiveness, a FMEA should be conducted like any other important project, meaning that a schedule should be established and due dates and deadlines specified.