FMEA Exercise
For years, the problem of “curb cut restorations” was a real headache in the city
of Fort Wayne. A curb cut is when a builder or contractor cuts away part of a curb
and the adjoining frontage property in order to add a new driveway, create a
handicap-accessible sidewalk ramp, and so on. In theory, the entire process from
making the cut to complete restoration (pouring the concrete, re-seeding grass) is
supposed to be done in 30 days. Then, also in theory, it would be inspected by the
City and cleared off the books.
What happened in practice was twofold: (1) sometimes the restorations never got
done, and (2) it could take as long as three years for the inspection to be done.
By early 2001, there was a backlog of over 2800 curb cut permits that were
unresolved (= WIP), clogging the permit process.
An intense study confirmed four main problems with the process:
• Cuts not being restored quickly enough
• Permits not being finalized quickly enough
• Customer satisfaction is too low
• Wasted dollars due to process inefficiencies
Perform Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to identify the ways the
process could fail that would contribute to the problems the study confirmed.
For deliverables, you need to submit:
1. The developed FMEA (excel file)
2. Word document (maximum 1000 words) which explains: 1) the process with
flowchart, and 2) the developed FMEA analysis its outcomes.