Effective Application of Software Failure Modes Effects Analysis – 2nd Edition

Effective Application of Software Failure Modes Effects Analysis – 2nd Edition

$125.00

This book is a practical step-by-step guide for reliability or software engineering practitioners. It illustrates each of the steps for performing a software FMEA and presents dozens of software failure modes and root causes. This book covers the eight possible viewpoints for conducting a SFMEA – requirements, interface design, detailed design and code, vulnerabilities, corrective actions, serviceability, usability and development processes. Faulty functionality, data, timing, sequencing and error handling are just some of the failure modes that are covered in this book. Real life examples of SFMEAs are shown during each step of the analysis as well as a cost benefit analysis. (256 pages)

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Product Description

This book is a practical step-by-step guide for reliability or software engineering practitioners. It illustrates each of the steps for performing a software FMEA and presents dozens of software failure modes and root causes. This book covers the eight possible viewpoints for conducting a SFMEA – requirements, interface design, detailed design and code, vulnerabilities, corrective actions, serviceability, usability and development processes. Faulty functionality, data, timing, sequencing and error handling are just some of the failure modes that are covered in this book. Real life examples of SFMEAs are shown during each step of the analysis as well as a cost benefit analysis. (256 pages)

The second edition includes additional examples for the functional, interface and detailed software FMEA viewpoints, examples of what a software FMEA should not look like, examples of the difference between a preventive measure, compensating provision and corrective action for software related failure modes, and additional guidance on how to assess the likelihood of the failure modes.

Copyright © 2021 by Mission Ready Software.
Published by Quanterion Solutions, Inc., Utica, New York
This publication is protected by U.S. Copyright Law and may not be copied, automated, re-sold, or re-distributed in part or in whole, without the express written permission of Ann Marie Neufelder, amneufelder@softrel.com, (321) 514-4659.

Table of Contents

  1.0 INTRODUCTION 7
  1.1 SOFTWARE FAILURE MODES EFFECTS ANALYSIS DEFINED 9
    1.1.1 Types of Software Systems 9
    1.1.2 Types of Software Applications 11
  1.2 PURPOSE OF THE SFMEA 12
  1.3 HOW THE SFMEA FITS INTO THE SYSTEM LIFECYCLE 14
  1.4 LIMITATIONS AND BENEFITS OF A SFMEA 15
  1.5 EXISTING GUIDANCE 16
  1.6 SOFTWARE FMEA STEPS 17
  1.7 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE FMEA 18
    1.7.1 SFMEA Viewpoints 18
    1.7.2 Software has its own Unique Failure Modes 21
    1.7.3 Single Failure Versus Single Failure Mode 21
    1.7.4 Software Reliability Growth is Limited 21
    1.7.5 Differences in the FMEA Table 22
  2.0 PREPARE THE SOFTWARE FMEA 26
  2.1 IDENTIFY THE SCOPE OF THE SFMEA 26
    2.1.1 Identify where the SFMEA applies 26
    2.1.2 Identify the riskiest parts of the software 30
    2.1.3 Identify Applicable Viewpoints 34
  2.2 IDENTIFY THE RESOURCES REQUIRED 39
    2.2.1 Identify and Gather Documentation and Artifacts 40
    2.2.2 Identify Personnel Resources Required for the SFMEA 43
    2.2.3 Decide Selection Scheme 48
  2.3 TAILOR THE SOFTWARE FMEA 51
    2.3.1 Set Ground Rules for the SFMEA 51
    2.3.2 Define failure, likelihood and severity rankings 51
    2.3.3 Select and Tailor the SFMEA Tool 53
  3.0 ANALYZE THE SOFTWARE FAILURE MODES AND ROOT CAUSES 58
  3.1 RESEARCH PAST FAILURE MODES FROM SIMILAR SYSTEMS 58
  3.2 BRAINSTORM SOFTWARE FAILURE MODES 59
  3.3 ANALYZE FAILURE MODES AND ROOT CAUSES 60
    3.3.1 Functional Failure Modes and Root Causes 60
    3.3.2 Interface Failure Modes and Root Causes 76
    3.3.3 Detailed Design Failure Modes and Root Causes 96
    3.3.4 Maintenance Failure Modes and Root Causes 118
    3.3.5 Usability Failure Modes and Root Causes 124
    3.3.6 Serviceability Failure Modes and Root Causes 132
    3.3.7 Vulnerability Failure Modes and Root Causes 137
    3.3.8 Process failure modes and root causes 147
  4.0 ANALYZE CONSEQUENCES 163
  4.1 IDENTIFY THE LOCAL, SUBSYSTEM AND SYSTEM EFFECTS 163
    4.1.1 Software Fault Tree Analysis 165
  4.2 IDENTIFY PREVENTIVE MEASURES 167
  4.3 IDENTIFY THE SEVERITY AND LIKELIHOOD 167
    4.3.1 Severity 168
    4.3.2 Likelihood 168
  4.4 EXAMPLES 170
  5.0 IDENTIFY MITIGATION 188
  5.1 IDENTIFY CORRECTIVE ACTIONS 188
  5.2 IDENTIFY COMPENSATING PROVISIONS 190
  5.3 REVISE RPN 190
  5.4 EXAMPLES 190
  6.0 GENERATE A CRITICAL ITEMS LIST 200
  6.1 IDENTIFY EQUIVALENT FAILURE MODES 200
  6.2 CREATE CIL 200
  6.3 EXAMPLE 201
  7.0 COMMON SFMEA OVERSIGHTS 205
APPENDIX 207
  APPENDIX A-1 ACRONYMS 198
  APPENDIX A-2 TERMS 209
  APPENDIX A-3 A FEW FAILURES CAUSED BY SOFTWARE 216
  APPENDIX A-4 LIST OF REFERENCES 220
  APPENDIX A-5 COMPREHENSIVE EXAMPLE 226

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