A spate of cartoons and commentary throughout the summer has lampooned BP, Halliburton, Transocean, and Cameron International for their apparent inability to plan timely control measures that might have constrained the destruction after the blowout on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. A Congressional hearing likewise roundly criticized leaders of these corporations for failing to anticipate the possibility of a major leak as well as subsequent failures of back-up systems.

This debate will continue to rage, no doubt, but in the heat of this discussion, it may be useful to reflect on the possibilities inherent in failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) for preventing or responding to defects in product or process outcomes. Because no industry is immune to product or service failure, FMEA provides a systematic analysis technique that helps identify potential problems. FMEA is utilized in all industries, from manufacturing to education to health care. The method was popularized by the auto industry but is clearly useful to any industry that experiences failures in systems or design.

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