Networked Systems Diagnostics: A Fusion of Failure Mode and Effects Analysis and a Delphi Expert Study

Networked devices, especially those comprising multiple identical devices, are extensively utilized in industrial scenarios. However, their complexity poses unique challenges in diagnostic processes, demanding efficient methodologies to identify and assess risks. The application of Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) for analyzing complex systems, especially those consisting of networked devices, appears to be limited, particularly in identifying critical risk factors. In this paper, we propose a novel pipeline to diagnose networked systems by fusing FMEA with a Delphi (expert) Study. Our approach leverages the collective knowledge of a group of experts through a structured Delphi Study enabling them to contribute individually but also to interact. We demonstrate the applicability of our approach through a case study involving a system of networked mobile robots. Based on a Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Risk Priority Numbers (RPN) of minimal fault tree cut sets are calculated to identify the most critical mechatronic failures. Our findings show that our methodology provides an RPN ranking that closely aligns with expert insights, highlighting its efficacy in accurately assessing risk in complex networked systems.