Free FMEA Templates: DFMEAs, PFMEAs, System, and Service

By Lulu Richter | September 19, 2024

We’ve gathered the most useful Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) templates for risk assessment in Excel, Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF, Google Docs, and Google Sheets formats.

Included this article, you’ll find the following:

FMEA Spreadsheet Template

FMEA Spreadsheet Template

Download a FMEA Spreadsheet Template for
Excel  | Google Sheets

When to Use This Template: Use this standard FMEA template to identify potential failure modes in products, processes, or systems, and to evaluate their causes and their impact, as well as the likelihood of their occurrence.

Notable Template Features: This spreadsheet template calculates a risk priority number (RPN) for each process step based on the values you enter for severity, occurrence, and detection of potential failures. For each part or process step listed, the template covers the effects of potential failures, causes, current controls, and recommended actions. A section for results lists actions taken and an updated RPN for each item.

Learn more about preventing potential failures in this essential guide to project risk analysis, and get started with evaluating risk using this guide to effective project risk assessments.

FMEA Matrix Document Template

FMEA Matrix Document Template

Download a FMEA Matrix Document Template for
Microsoft Word  |  Adobe PDF  | Google Docs

When to Use This Template: Choose this FMEA template for a matrix layout in a document format. This template can be used for analyzing a system, product, or process.

Notable Template Features: The simplicity of this template makes it easy to read and customize. See the notes at the bottom of the template for descriptions of severity, occurrence, and detection, as well as how to calculate the RPN.

PFMEA Template With Process Diagram

PFMEA Template with Process Diagram

Download a PFMEA Template With Process Diagram for
Excel  | Google Sheets

When to Use This Template: Use this process FMEA (PFMEA) template to analyze potential process failures and their effects. This can be especially crucial for industries where process reliability is key, such as automotive manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and food processing.

Notable Template Features: This template includes a process flow diagram to visually map out a process and help identify potential failures at each step.

DFMEA Template With Heatmap Ratings

DFMEA Template with Heatmap Ratings

Download a DFMEA Template With Heatmap Ratings for
Excel  | Google Sheets

When to Use This Template: Use this design FMEA (DFMEA) template during the design phase of a product to assess the impact of potential failures on the product's functionality and safety.

Notable Template Features: This template includes editable rating scales for severity of an effect, rate of its occurrence, and likelihood of detecting failure. The DFMEA spreadsheet uses heatmap colors to highlight these ratings, making it easy to view the range of scores at a glance.

Example System FMEA Template

Example System FMEA Template

Download an Example System FMEA Template for
Excel  | Google Sheets

When to Use This Template: Download this template to view an example system FMEA, which detects failure modes at the system level.

Notable Template Features: This template provides an example of how the subsystems of a larger system can be broken down to identify potential failure modes, assess impacts, and improve control measures.

Learn more about correcting and preventing failure modes with this analysis of how CAPA, or corrective action and preventive action, can sustain an organization.

Example Service FMEA Template

Example Service FMEA Template

Download an Example Service FMEA Template for
Excel  | Google Sheets

When to Use This Template: Use this service FMEA template to see how the FMEA process can be applied to the service industry.

Notable Template Features: This template examines steps in a customer onboarding process, from initial contact to issue escalation. The template shows how identifying and implementing countermeasures can reduce the likelihood and seriousness of potential failures.

Example Software FMEA Template

Example Software FMEA Template

Download an Example Software FMEA Template for
Excel  | Google Sheets

When to Use This Template: View this template for an example of how an FMEA report can be utilized in a software development context.

Notable Template Features: This example template analyzes software components to identify potential failures and their causes, review existing control methods, and implement required actions.

FMEA Control Plan Template

FMEA Control Plan Template

Download an FMEA Control Plan Template for
Excel  | Google Sheets

When to Use This Template: Use this template to outline the monitoring and control methods that will prevent or detect the failure modes identified in an FMEA.

Notable Template Features: This template provides an FMEA spreadsheet and a control plan. The control plan template includes columns for listing process steps and their uses, as well as control methods, monitoring and reaction plans, and assigned owners.

Types of FMEA (Failure Mode and Effect Analysis) Templates

FMEA templates can focus on failure modes at the system or process levels, or at different points in the lifecycle from product design and manufacturing to final delivery. Here are the most common FMEA template types and their uses:

  • Design FMEA (DFMEA): This template analyzes potential failure modes in product design to improve reliability and performance before manufacturing begins.
  • Process FMEA (PFMEA): This identifies and mitigates risks in manufacturing or assembly processes to ensure consistent product quality.
  • Service FMEA: This template assesses potential failures in service delivery processes to enhance customer satisfaction and service quality.
  • Software FMEA: Use this template to examine software-specific failure modes and address risks in functionality, performance, and user experience.
  • System FMEA: This evaluates failure modes at the system level, focusing on interactions between subsystems and their overall impact. 

The FMEA templates listed above are the most commonly used across industries. Examples of more specialized FMEA templates include the following:

  • Environmental FMEA: This assesses the environmental impact of potential failure modes to minimize ecological risks.
  • Equipment FMEA: This template evaluates equipment failure modes in a manufacturing or operational environment to improve maintenance and reduce downtime.
  • Functional FMEA: This template analyzes potential failures of specific system functions to ensure that these functions operate as intended.
  • Maintenance FMEA: This template analyzes failure modes related to maintenance procedures to optimize reliability and reduce repair costs.
  • Safety FMEA: The safety FMEA template focuses on identifying and mitigating safety-related failure modes to prevent harm to users or operators.


Organizations often create their own custom FMEA templates to suit their specific needs. Each FMEA template targets specific aspects of a product, process, or system to help organizations address risks and improve outcomes.

Jump-start optimizing your processes with these free Lean Six Sigma templates.

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