Annex I: Methods & Tools
ICH Q9 QUALITY RISK MANAGEMENT
Annex I.4
Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
prepared by some members of the ICH Q9 EWG for example only; not an official policy/guidance
July 2006, slide 1
Annex I: Methods & Tools
ICH Q9 QUALITY RISK MANAGEMENT
I.4: Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
(IEC 61025)
Assumes failure of the functionality of a product or process
Identifies all potential root causes of an assumed failure or problem that it is thought to be important to prevent Evaluates system (or sub-system) failures one at a time Can combine multiple causes by identifying causal chains
ICH Q9
prepared by some members of the ICH Q9 EWG for example only; not an official policy/guidance
July 2006, slide 2
Annex I: Methods & Tools
ICH Q9 QUALITY RISK MANAGEMENT
I.4: Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
How to perform? Results are represented pictorially in the form of a tree of fault modes At each level in the tree, combinations of fault modes are described with logical operators (AND, OR, etc.) ICH Q9
http://www.sverdrup.com/safety/fta.pdf
prepared by some members of the ICH Q9 EWG for example only; not an official policy/guidance
July 2006, slide 3
Annex I: Methods & Tools
ICH Q9 QUALITY RISK MANAGEMENT EXAMPLE
I.4: Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
Basic symbols: Basic Flow FAULT Fault in a box indicates that it is a result of previous faults Connects preceding fault with a subsequent fault that could cause a failure
OR
AND
Connects two or more faults that must occur simultaneously to cause the preceding fault
Source: Overview of Risk Management Techniques. Robert C. Menson, PhD (2004).
July 2006, slide 4
prepared by some members of the ICH Q9 EWG for example only; not an official policy/guidance
Annex I: Methods & Tools
ICH Q9 QUALITY RISK MANAGEMENT EXAMPLE
I.4: Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
Basic symbols: End Points & Connector
Root cause
Root cause (= basic fault)
(e.g. part failure, software error, human error)
Fault to be further analyzed with more time or information if needed
Transfer-in and transfer-out events
Source: Overview of Risk Management Techniques. Robert C. Menson, PhD (2004).
prepared by some members of the ICH Q9 EWG for example only; not an official policy/guidance
July 2006, slide 5
Annex I: Methods & Tools
ICH Q9 QUALITY RISK MANAGEMENT EXAMPLE
I.4: Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
Additional Symbols Exclusive OR Gate: Fault occurs if only one of the input faults occurs Priority AND Gate: Fault occurs if all inputs occur in a certain order m
Voting OR Gate: Fault occurs if m or more out of n input faults occurs
Source: Overview of Risk Management Techniques. Robert C. Menson, PhD (2004).
July 2006, slide 6
prepared by some members of the ICH Q9 EWG for example only; not an official policy/guidance
Annex I: Methods & Tools
ICH Q9 QUALITY RISK MANAGEMENT
I.4: Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
Potential Areas of Use(s) Establish the pathway to the root cause of the failure
While investigating complaints or deviations to fully understand their root cause
Ensure that intended improvements will fully resolve the issue and not lead to other issues Evaluating how multiple factors affect a given issue
ICH Q9
prepared by some members of the ICH Q9 EWG for example only; not an official policy/guidance
July 2006, slide 7
Annex I: Methods & Tools
ICH Q9 QUALITY RISK MANAGEMENT EXAMPLE
I.4: Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
Investigation of laboratory failures
Production
outlier
Calibration
Out of specification result
or
Lab error
or
systematic
or
Interfaces
others
random
other
prepared by some members of the ICH Q9 EWG for example only; not an official policy/guidance
July 2006, slide 8
Annex I: Methods & Tools
ICH Q9 QUALITY RISK MANAGEMENT EXAMPLE
I.4: Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
Hard to open or
Production
Cap
Bottle
Stability and
or
Bad fit
Formulation
Processing
Packaging
Solidify
Ageing
or
Supply Defect Too tightly Closed
Change closing torque and calibrate periodically
Takayoshi Matsumura, Eisai Co
July 2006, slide 9
prepared by some members of the ICH Q9 EWG for example only; not an official policy/guidance
Annex I: Methods & Tools
ICH Q9 QUALITY RISK MANAGEMENT
I.4: Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
Experiences Better as a retrospective tool Visually focused: aid for showing linkages
Limitations
> > > > > > Only as good as input Time and resource consuming (needs FMEA as a complement ) Need skilled leader to focus on what is really important Need significant amount of information Human errors may be difficult to predict Many potential fault trees for a system - Some more useful than others - Need to evaluate contribution
July 2006, slide 10
prepared by some members of the ICH Q9 EWG for example only; not an official policy/guidance
Annex I: Methods & Tools
ICH Q9 QUALITY RISK MANAGEMENT EXAMPLE
I.2: Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) I.4: Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
FTA
Assumes failure of the functionality of a product FMEA Assumes component failure
Identifies the root cause Identifies functional failure as a result of component of functional failure failure Top down Bottom up
prepared by some members of the ICH Q9 EWG for example only; not an official policy/guidance
July 2006, slide 11
