P-Diagram to FMEA Workflow
Some organizations may choose to start their workflow with the P-Diagram and remain in that "brainstorming" phase as long as possible, then use the P-Diagram as the starting point for the FMEA. Starting in Version 2025, this workflow is enabled as explained here.
Important: These options are not available if the FMEA structure is Causes Before Effects.
Record Correspondences
Certain P-Diagram elements are considered to correspond to certain FMEA record types, as follows:
|
P-Diagram Element |
FMEA Record Type |
|
Ideal Response |
Function |
|
Error State |
Failure |
|
End Effect |
Effect |
|
Noise Factors |
Cause |
|
Control Factors |
Control or Action |
|
Input Signal |
Function Requirement |
Associating Records
P-Diagram elements are simply lists of records without any inherent connection between them. In preparation for transferring these records into the FMEA, which has a hierarchical structure (e.g., a failure "belongs" to a specific function, an effect "belongs" to a specific failure, etc.), you will need to create associations between P-Diagram records that indicate which records "belong" to each other.
To create an association, select a P-Diagram record and then choose P-Diagram > Records > Add/Edit Associations.
The Add/Edit Associations window that appears will allow you to select the record(s) that "belong" to the current record. This window will be configured for the specific P-Diagram element that you're working with.
The Available Associations area displays all of the records that are available to be selected that are not currently associated with the record.
The Current Associations area displays the records that are already associated with it.
The available associations depend on the project's FMEA structure:
- For the Effects Before Causes FMEA structure you can create the following associations:
|
Selected Record Type |
Record Types that Can Be Associated to Selected Record |
|
Ideal Response (FMEA Function) |
Error State (FMEA Failure) and Input Signals (FMEA Function Requirement) |
|
Error State (FMEA Failure) |
End Effect (FMEA Effect) |
|
End Effect (FMEA Effect) |
Noise Factor (FMEA Cause) |
|
Noise Factor (FMEA Cause) |
Control Factor (FMEA Control or FMEA Action) |
- For the Grouped Effects and Causes FMEA structure you can create the following the associations:
|
Selected Record Type |
Record Types that Can Be Associated to Selected Record |
|
Ideal Response (FMEA Function) |
Error State (FMEA Failure) and Input Signals (FMEA Function Requirement) |
|
Error State (FMEA Failure) |
End Effect (FMEA Effect) and Noise Factor (FMEA Cause) |
|
Noise Factor (FMEA Cause) |
Control Factor (FMEA Control or FMEA Action) |
You cannot create associations for Input Signals, Functions, Functional Requirements, Non-functional Requirements, and Control Factors as these record types do not have a direct association of their own with another P-Diagram record type.
In the P-Diagram, any record that has at least one associated record will be marked with
the 
icon.
You can double-click the icon to open the Add/Edit Associations window and view or change
the associations.
Transferring Records to an FMEA
After creating the associations between the P-diagram records, you can transfer specific Ideal Responses (Functions) with their associated records to an FMEA by choosing P-Diagram > Records > Transfer to FMEA.
In the Transfer P-Diagram to FMEA window:
- Select which functions to transfer to the FMEA.
- For each Control Factor select whether the record will be transferred as an Action or as a Control. You can make the choice for each record individually or click a column heading to apply the choice to all associated Control Factors.
- Click OK. If an FMEA already exists then the selected functions will be appended to the end of it. If one does not already exist then a new FMEA is created and the selected functions are added to it.
Note: If a record has previously been transferred to the FMEA, then the Transferred column indicates this. This does not change once the association has been transferred at least once. If, however, the associated FMEA is deleted, the Transferred column will be cleared.