System Hierarchy

In XFMEA/RCM++, the flexible system hierarchy allows you to manage large, multi-level system configurations with as many levels as you need and any number of items per level. You can fully define the properties for each item (e.g., supplier, part number, expected operating environment, etc.) and perform relevant analyses for selected items.

The hierarchy will consist of systems, subsystems and components, and you can perform a variety of analyses at any level in the configuration. (See Building the System Hierarchy.)

System Hierarchy Filtered View

On the Filtered View tab of the System panel, you can also select or create an item filter to find and focus on the specific items of interest. Records meeting the filter criteria are presented in a sortable list.

System Hierarchy Columns

To hide or display system hierarchy columns, or change the column order, right-click the column headings then click Customize Columns. (You can also change the column order by dragging and dropping column headings into the desired positions.)  These settings are stored per computer/username in the System Hierarchy page of the Application Setup. Any project that you open on this computer will have the same columns displayed, but other users may have different display preferences.

The following columns are available:

  • # displays the record position number assigned by the software based on the position of the item in the system hierarchy. For example, if you insert a new item above an existing item, then the new item will take the number of the existing item and all items below it will be renumbered. Likewise, if you delete an item, all items below it will be renumbered automatically.
  • Name displays the item name. This is a required field, and it is specified on the Properties tab of the Analysis panel.
  • Record ID displays a unique identifier assigned by the software. The record ID is unique among all system hierarchy items that are defined in the database. It can also be used in the Query Utility to help identify a specific item that may share the same name with another item.
  • User Access displays status indicator when the record is in use () or when it is restricted to selected users ().
  • XFRACAS Associated Hierarchy Item is available for enterprise databases only. It indicates that the item is associated with an XFRACAS hierarchy item. If an association exists, future changes made to the item and/or its failures and causes in XFRACAS can be brought into the software by synchronizing the data.
  • Reference Number displays the reference number associated with the item. To display this column in the current project, the field must be enabled on the Item > Properties page of the interface style. The number is specified on the Properties tab of the Analysis panel.
  • Tip: If you wish to automatically generate reference numbers (e.g., 1.2.1) for all items based on their positions in the hierarchy, choose System Hierarchy > Tools > Renumber All Items and then select the Apply to reference number field check box. This cannot be undone.
  • Part Number displays the part number associated with the item. To display this column in the current project, the field must be enabled on the Item > Properties page of the interface style. The number is specified on the Properties tab of the Analysis panel.
  • FMEA Document Number displays the document number for the local FMEA associated with the item, if any. To display this column in the current project, the field must be enabled on the FMEA > Header page of the interface style. This number is specified on the Header tab of the FMEA, if there’s an FMEA defined for the item.
  • Attachment displays a paper clip icon if one or more files have been attached to the corresponding item.
  • Flag displays a flag for the item, if desired. The available flags are: Complete (indicated by a green flag), In Progress (indicated by a yellow flag) and Incomplete (indicated by a red flag). In all ReliaSoft applications, flags are displayed in the interface only and do not affect analysis results or reports.
  • Item SxO displays the calculated rating from the Item Severity x Item Occurrence (if enabled for the project). If a risk ranking logic is defined for the project, the value will be color-coded based on the specified risk criteria.
  • Item Risk displays the calculated risk ranking logic value for the item, if it is defined for the project.
  • Risk Discovery displays an icon if a risk discovery analysis has been performed on the item. If the analysis indicates that the item requires more detailed investigation, the icon will be red ; otherwise, the icon will be green .
  • Risk Discovery Details displays a number if a risk discovery analysis has been performed on the item.
    • If the analysis uses risk discovery questions, then this cell will display the number of questions with "Yes" answers. More "Yes" answers indicates greater risk.
    • If the analysis uses risk discovery ratings, then this cell will display the calculated value of all categories, which is based on the method in use for the Risk Discovery Ratings used in the project. Higher values indicate greater risk.
  • P-Diagram displays if a Parameter Diagram (P-Diagram) has been created for the item, when a P-Diagram  change log is present and a revision is in progress or when a P-Diagram change log is present and no revision is active.
  • Analysis Plan displays if an Analysis Plan has been created for the item.
  • Process Flow Diagram Worksheet displays if a PFD worksheet has been created for the item.
  • FMEA displays if an FMEA has been created for the item, when an FMEA change log is present for the local FMEA and a revision is in progress or when an FMEA change log is present for the local FMEA and no revision is active. In addition, this column may indicate the status of the associations with all source records. (See Ancestry for more information about source records and the situations in which they can be used.) Green indicates that no source records have been changed either since their descendants were created or since the last time a change notification for the descendants was dismissed. Orange indicates that some change has been made to one or more source records or their dependents, or that one or more source records have been deleted.
  • DRBFM displays if a design review based on failure mode (DRBFM) analysis has been created for the item.
  • Test Plan displays if a test plan analysis has been created, for the item, when a test plan change log is present and a revision is in progress or when a test plan change log is present and no revision is active. In addition, this column may indicate the status of the associations with all source records. (See Ancestry for more information about source records and the situations in which they can be used.) Green indicates that no source records have been changed either since their descendants were created or since the last time a change notification for the descendants was dismissed. Orange indicates that some change has been made to one or more source records or their dependents, or that one or more source records have been deleted.
  • DVP&R displays if a design verification plan and report (DVP&R) analysis has been created for the item, when a DVP&R change log is present that a revision is in progress or when a DVP&R change log is present and no revision is active.
  • Control Plan displays if a control plan analysis has been created for the item, when a control plan  change log is present and a revision is in progress or when a control plan change log is present and no revision is active. In addition, this column may indicate the status of the associations with all source records. (See Ancestry for more information about source records and the situations in which they can be used.) Green indicates that no source records have been changed either since their descendants were created or since the last time a change notification for the descendants was dismissed. Orange indicates that some change has been made to one or more source records or their dependents, or that one or more source records have been deleted.
  • Process Flow Diagram displays if a graphical process flow diagram has been created for the item.
  • FMEA Block Diagram displays if an FMEA Block Diagram has been created for the item.
  • Cause and Effect Diagram displays if a cause and effect diagram has been created for the item.
  • QCPNi and QCPNr display the calculated initial and revised Quantitative Consequence Priority Numbers. To display these columns in the current project, the fields must be enabled on the FMEA > RPNs page of interface style.