Poka-yoke

mistake-proofing

Poka-yoke (Japanese for avoiding mistakes) is a device or method that prevents an error or makes it obvious at once, such as a fixture that fits only one way or a sensor that stops the machine when a part is missing.

It is the strongest answer to a failure cause in an FMEA, because it works without relying on attention.

Calculate it

FMEA Worksheet: Severity, occurrence and detection ratings with RPN, priority ranking and CSV export.

Related terms

• PFMEA: process failure mode and effects analysis
• Root cause: the cause that, once removed, prevents recurrence