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Certainly! Here’s a step-by-step solution to your Reliability-Centred Maintenance (RCM) analysis assignment, using an example household appliance: **a Washing Machine**. You can adapt this structure and process for your group’s chosen appliance. --- ## 1. Justification for Choice of Appliance **Appliance Chosen:** Washing Machine **Justification:** - Washing machines are common in most households and essential for daily chores. - They are relatively complex appliances with various mechanical, electrical, and electronic components, making them suitable for reliability analysis. - Failures can cause significant inconvenience and potential water damage. - Regular maintenance is needed to ensure longevity and safety. --- ## 2. FMEA for Washing Machine ### (A) Identify Functions | Function # | Function Description | |------------|------------------------------------| | F1 | Clean clothes by agitating in water | | F2 | Drain water after wash | | F3 | Spin clothes to remove excess water | | F4 | Heat water (if applicable) | --- ### (B) Identify Functional Failures | Function # | Functional Failure | |------------|------------------------------------| | F1 | Does not agitate or clean clothes | | F2 | Water does not drain | | F3 | Does not spin or remove water | | F4 | Water does not heat | --- ### (C) Identify Failure Modes, Effects, Causes | Failure Mode | Effect | Possible Cause | |------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------------------| | Drum not spinning | Clothes remain wet, unclean | Broken belt, motor failure | | Water not draining | Water remains in drum, possible flooding | Blocked pump, faulty valve | | No water heating | Cold water wash only | Heating element failure | | No power/on | Machine won’t start | Faulty power supply, PCB | | Leaking water | Water on floor, possible damage | Faulty seal, hose leak | --- ## 3. Calculate and Prioritize Risk Priority Numbers (RPN) **RPN = Severity (S) × Occurrence (O) × Detection (D)** (Scale: 1-10, where 10 is worst) | Failure Mode | S | O | D | RPN | Notes | |------------------------|---|---|---|-----|-----------------------------| | Drum not spinning | 8 | 6 | 4 | 192 | High inconvenience | | Water not draining | 7 | 7 | 6 | 294 | Can cause water damage | | No water heating | 4 | 5 | 5 | 100 | Less critical | | No power/on | 9 | 4 | 3 | 108 | Critical, but less frequent | | Leaking water | 9 | 3 | 6 | 162 | Potential safety hazard | **Prioritization:** 1. Water not draining (RPN=294) 2. Drum not spinning (RPN=192) 3. Leaking water (RPN=162) 4. No power/on (RPN=108) 5. No water heating (RPN=100) --- ## 4. Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) for “Water Not Draining” ### Top Event: **Washing machine does not drain water** **Branches:** - **OR Gate:** - Blocked drain pump - Clogged with debris/coins - Pump impeller jammed - Faulty drain pump - Pump motor failure - Electrical connection failure - Faulty drain hose - Kinked hose - Hose blocked by lint - Control board failure - Faulty relay - Software fault **Visualization:** (You can draw this as a tree diagram) ``` [Water Not Draining] | ----------------------------- | | | | Blocked Faulty Faulty Control Pump Pump Hose Board ``` Each branch can further be split into the root causes listed above. --- ## 5. Discussion of Results **Key Findings:** - The most critical and highest-risk failure mode is “water not draining,” with an RPN of 294. - Root causes tend to be related to user behavior (leaving debris in pockets causing blockages), component wear (pump failure), or accidental damage (kinked hose). - Preventive maintenance, such as regularly checking and cleaning the filter, inspecting hoses, and ensuring pockets are empty, can reduce occurrence. - Early detection is possible by monitoring for unusual noises, slow drainage, or error codes. - “Drum not spinning” and “leaking water” are also high-priority due to their inconvenience and potential for damage. - FTA helps pinpoint that blockages and pump failures are the most common root causes for drainage issues. **Recommendations:** - Implement a regular maintenance schedule for cleaning filters and hoses. - Educate users to check pockets before washing. - Regular inspection for leaks and unusual noises. - Consider design improvements for easier access to common failure points. --- ## **Final Answer Summary** - **Selected Appliance:** Washing Machine (justified above) - **FMEA:** Functions, failures, failure modes, and effects identified (see tables) - **RPNs Calculated:** Water not draining is top priority (RPN=294) - **Fault Tree Analysis:** Systematic breakdown of root causes for top failure mode - **Discussion:** Focused on critical issues, root causes, and maintenance recommendations --- **You can use this template as a group report structure and adapt the appliance and specific failure data as needed.** If you need the same analysis for a different appliance, let me know!