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 workflow is dependent on the version you are using.

Version 2025.0.1 Workflow

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.

Version 2025.0.2 and later Workflow

The focal record appears at the top left of the window. (This is the record for which you are currently defining associations.) The remainder of the window displays all of the records that can be associated with the focal record. Records that are already associated with the focal record are shown as already selected.

Select the record(s) that you want to associate with the focal record:
- To add a new record, click Add/Edit Items to open a window where you can create new record(s), then close the window. You can then select the record(s) that you added.
- To limit the records shown in a group, use the filters in that group.
If a selected record shows a green arrow , you can click the green arrow to make it the new focal record. The window then displays the records that you can associate with the new focal record. All changes that you have made in the window are immediately saved when you click the right arrow.
You can click the Back button to go up a level and continue associating other records to the focal record. All changes that you have made in the window are immediately saved when you click the Back button.
To immediately save the associations you have made up to that point, click the Save icon. You can continue to work in the window.
When you are done making associations, click OK to save the changes.
You can click Cancel to close the window without saving your changes. Note, however, that this will NOT "unsave" changes that have already been saved by clicking the Save icon or any of the green arrows.

Note: The P-Diagram to FMEA workflow assumes that you have the End Effect element enabled in the P-Diagram. This element is enabled via the interface style. Failure to enable this element will result in empty records and/or the need to create dummy records to complete the association process, depending on the FMEA structure that the project uses.

Available Associations

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.

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.

What’s Changed? Starting in Version 25.0.2, depending on your setting in the Database Settings window you will either be able to make the choice for each record or the records will automatically be transferred as actions or controls.

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.