A Potential Failure Mode and Effect Analysis Method of Electromagnet Based on Intuitionistic Fuzzy Number in Manufacturing Systems

Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) is a systematic activity in the stage of product design and process design. However, the traditional FMEA has some shortcomings in practical application, such as too many evaluation languages, uncertain weights of influencing factors, and uncertain weights of evaluation members. This paper presents an FMEA evaluation method in manufacturing system based on similarity measure, nonlinear programming model, and intuitionistic fuzzy number (IFN). Firstly, the IFN is used to evaluate failure mode, which overcomes the defect of traditional FMEA evaluation value. Secondly, the weight of failure evaluation team members is solved according to the concept of similarity measure to make up for the blank of evaluation members’ weight aiming at the shortage of unknown weight. Then, the definition of consensus measure is introduced to make the evaluators reach a consensus, and the weights of influencing factors of failure modes (FMs) are calculated. Finally, the weights of evaluators and influencing factors are calculated by IFN algorithm and score function, and the score value of each FM is obtained to rank instead of risk priority number (RPN). The objectivity and practicability of the new method are verified by the example of failure mode for an attractive electromagnet manufacturing system.