Expert-in-the-Loop Framework for MBSE-Assisted Automatic Process FMEA Generation

This paper introduces an expert-in-the-loop framework for MBSE-assisted automatic FMEA generation to enhance the productivity and integrity of the manufacturing process design assurance. The MBSE-assisted FMEA tool is implemented in the Matlab System Composer environment, and supports the implementation of the framework as an iterative process including three activities: MBSE process model development; detailed process dependencies analysis to enhance the detail of the MBSE model; and MBSE-assisted FMEA generation based on a failure mode taxonomy and ontology with continual learning. The principle guiding the framework and the design of the user interaction with the tool is that the expert should evaluate the validity of the MBSE model and the FMEA generated based on the engineering inputs provided, with corrections applied to the inputs rather than the outcomes. This ensures both traceability of the analysis, and also that all the system design and development documents are updated. The industrial validation of the framework with a complex robotic manufacturing process showed good results in terms of robustness, integrity and productivity.

Keywords: Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), Process modelling, Process analysis, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), Robustness, Design and process assurance.

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