In a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, what does the DET (Detection) rating measure?

In a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), the DET (Detection) rating specifically measures the ability of control systems or processes to detect potential failures before they occur or before they lead to significant consequences. A higher detection rating indicates that the current controls or measures in place are effective at identifying failures, whereas a lower rating suggests that there is a greater risk that a failure could go undetected, leading to potential issues down the line.

This aspect is crucial because even if a failure has a low occurrence likelihood, if it is not detected effectively, it can still lead to severe impacts. Therefore, the focus on detection helps teams evaluate whether existing controls are sufficient to identify problems and mitigate risks early in the process, contributing to overall reliability and safety in operations.