A failure node and effects analysis (FMEA) should be classified in what cost of quality category?

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a systematic, proactive methodology used to identify and evaluate potential failures in a design or process. The primary objective of an FMEA is to determine actions that can eliminate or reduce the likelihood of these potential failures occurring. Since the costs associated with conducting an FMEA are incurred to prevent defects and non-conformances before they happen, they are correctly classified as Prevention Costs within the Cost of Quality (CoQ) framework. This aligns with the definition of prevention costs, which are investments made to keep failure and appraisal costs to a minimum.

A. Appraisal: Appraisal costs are associated with measuring, evaluating, or auditing products or services to ensure conformance to quality standards (e.g., inspection, testing), not preventing failures.
C. Control: "Control" is not a standard, distinct category in the traditional Cost of Quality model. The model consists of Prevention, Appraisal, Internal Failure, and External Failure costs.
D. Inspection: Inspection is a specific type of appraisal activity used to detect defects after they have already occurred, which is fundamentally different from the preventative nature of an FMEA.

1. Laman, S. A., & Westcott, L. K. (Eds.). (2017). The Certified Quality Engineer Handbook (4th ed.). ASQ Quality Press. In Chapter 7, "The Quality System," Table 7.1, "Examples of Quality Costs," explicitly lists "Quality planning (e.g., FMEA, control plans)" under the Prevention Costs category.

2. Juran, J. M., & De Feo, J. A. (2010). Juran's Quality Handbook: The Complete Guide to Performance Excellence (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill. Chapter 8, "Quality and Costs," details the cost categories. Activities like FMEA fall under "quality planning" and "process control planning," which are defined as core components of Prevention Costs (Section: Prevention Costs, pp. 266-267).

3. Russell, J. P. (Ed.). (2013). The ASQ Auditing Handbook (4th ed.). ASQ Quality Press. In Chapter 5, "Audit Preparation," the text discusses reviewing quality system planning activities. It states, "Prevention costs are incurred to prevent poor quality... Examples include... quality planning [and] failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)..." (p. 68).