SEV
OCC
DET
RPN
Cause(s)
Failure
Effects
Way in which a process/system could fail if not detected and either
corrected or removed, resulting in an effect
Impact on customers – internal and external – including downstream
processes or regulatory impact due to the failure mode
Significance of impact of effect to internal or external customers, expressed
as a number between 1 (best) and 10 (worst) to signify severity
Underlying phenomena that instigate or create failure modes
Likelihood of the cause of the failure mode to occur, expressed as a
number between 1 (rare) and 10 (certain) to signify occurrence
Ability of current system to detect the cause or failure mode, expressed
as a number between 1 (best) to 10 (worst) to signify detectability
A numerical calculation of the relative risk of a particular failure mode
RPN = SEVxOCCxDET
This number is then used to place priority on items needing additional
investigation.
Once the team identifies the highest risks, the appropriate problem-solving methodology is
used to reduce, if not eliminate, the negative risks.
Failure
Mode
Failure
E#ffects
Severity
(SEV)
Cause(s)
Occurrence
(OCC)
Detection
(DET)
Risk Priority
Number
(RPN)
3 0 0 B R I C K S T O N E S Q U A R E • S U I T E 2 0 1 • A N D O V E R , M A 0 1 8 1 0 | P H O N E : 9 7 8 . 6 4 9 . 8 2 0 0 | W W W . C O R P E D G R O U P . C O M
M I N D S E T A N D T O O L S E T S F O R P R O B L E M - S O L V I N G I N H E A L T H C A R E
