Fully understanding product requirements and assessing potential failure modes allows us to anticipate risks in the early design phases and implement the right solutions.
The Failure Mode Knowledge Matrix, introduced by the electronics consortium ZVEI and the American Electronics Council in 2005, provides a methodology for capitalizing on our experience and sharing our knowledge of failure modes.
In ST, we use it to capture, store and transfer in-depth knowledge and expertise so that we are able to reuse the best available knowledge and prevention solutions. We use this information during product and technology design at the level of the device, die, IP, package, subsystem, and interactions among components. The FMKM covers random, transient and design failures as well as mechatronics (MEMS), medical devices and safety application items.
Information about risks and prevention solutions is gathered during technology platform qualification, product development, qualification and ramp-up, including feedback from manufacturing and the field. Expert teams submit contributions to a steering committee, which validates proposed entries. Other experts can then access this company-wide expertise through the Failure Modes Knowledge Matrix, allowing them to identify and mitigate critical risk factors.
