While the root causes of product failure are varied, the problem solving process by which they are identified and understood is a series of well-defined steps:

• Discovery or Information Gathering
  
• Define Problem
  
• Establish Hypotheses to Explain Real Life Observations
  
• Design an Experimental Approach to Acquire Missing Information
  
• Test Hypotheses to Narrow Focus on Most Likely Cause(s)
  
• Communication and Feedback
  
• Develop Actions to Solve Problem

Click Success Stories, # 001 for a description of ANALYZE’s problem solving approach

Examples of failure analysis projects include the following:

• Thermoplastic Urethane Bond Failure
  
• Medical Device Cleaning
  
• Composite/Adhesive/Al Panel Bond Failure
  
• Implantable Medical Device Issues
  
• Corrosion Products in Failed A/C Compressor Unit
  
• Printed Circuit Board and Flexible Circuit Problems
  
• Stress Cracking in Molded Plastic Parts
  
• Surface Appearance of Consumer Electronic Housings
  
• Warping of Plastic Parts
  
• Environmental Degradation of Plastic Articles
  
• Loss of Paint and Coating Adhesion to Substrates
  
• Aerospace O-Ring/Gasket Environment Compatibility
  
• Consumer Packaging Film Surface Treatments
  
• Plastic Food Container Seals

The ability to respond quickly to client needs is important as there are often significant business and risk management issues associated with root cause/failure analysis investigations.

Click Success Stories, # 006 for an example taken from consumer electronics.