Automatic Generation of a Diagnostic Expert System from Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) Information

This paper describes a project to convert the results of Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) information into a diagnostic knowledge base. Combined with a diagnostic expert system, this knowledge base produced an effective diagnostic system for an off-highway vehicle.

The paper delineates how FMEA data elements were used in the construction of the diagnostic knowledge base, and the significant performance improvement that resulted from its use as compared with traditional service information tools.

Future work to improve the diagnostic development process is discussed, and how the methods described herein can be used to improve the overall FMEA process.