Pick your standard — Specwarden reviews all major FMEA formats
Not sure which standard your file uses? The two-question decision tree below gets you to the right answer in under 30 seconds.
Two questions — four outcomes
Q1: What does your file describe?
Product design features (how a component can fail)
→ DFMEASee features →
Manufacturing/assembly process steps (how a process step fails)
→ PFMEASee features →
Q2: What does the risk column show?
S × O × D = RPN (a number)
→ AIAG-RPN format
H / M / L (Action Priority lookup)
→ AIAG-VDA format → /standards/aiag-vdaSee features →
All supported standards
AIAG-RPN
AIAG FMEA-4 — Traditional RPN Format
The classic S × O × D = RPN format from AIAG's 4th Edition FMEA manual, still the most widely used format at SMB Tier-2/3 suppliers.
When to use it
Use when your OEM has not yet mandated AIAG-VDA migration, or when reviewing legacy FMEA files authored before the 2019 Handbook. Specwarden auto-detects this format — no configuration needed.
Industries that mandate it
Dominant at SMB Tier-2/3 suppliers in North America. Still accepted by many OEMs. GM, Ford, and Stellantis CSRs define migration timelines — check your specific CSR.
What Specwarden catches
- RPN arithmetic errors (U-002) — S × O × D ≠ stated RPN
- S/O/D scoring intent issues (M-001/M-002/M-003) per AIAG FMEA-4 §III
- Sev 9/10 rows with no action (U-011) — audit-failing pattern
AIAG-VDA
AIAG-VDA Handbook — Action Priority Format
Updated FMEA methodology using Action Priority (H/M/L lookup) instead of RPN calculation.
When to use it
Use when your OEM customer has mandated migration from legacy AIAG FMEA-4 (RPN) to the 2019 AIAG-VDA Handbook (AP). The key change: AP is a lookup table result, not a formula — Specwarden verifies the lookup is correct.
Industries that mandate it
Major automotive OEMs (GM, Ford, Stellantis, BMW, VW group) are requiring AIAG-VDA migration through 2027. Check your customer-specific requirements (CSR).
What Specwarden catches
- AP lookup table errors — wrong H/M/L assignment vs §2.5.10 table
- Severity immutability violations in DFMEA post-action rows
- Mixed-format migration errors (some rows RPN, some AP)
Control PlanV1.5
Control Plan (AIAG APQP)
Documents process controls that ensure ongoing production quality — the downstream companion to PFMEA.
When to use it
Use after PFMEA is complete to document which process controls will be maintained in production. Control Plan review ships in V1.5.
Industries that mandate it
Required in APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) packages submitted to automotive OEMs. Closely tied to PFMEA outputs.
What Specwarden catches
- Control Plan review coming V1.5
- Coverage consistency vs PFMEA failure modes
- Missing reaction plans
More standards on the roadmap: IEC 60812 (functional safety), VDA 6.3 (process audit), AS9145 (aerospace APQP) — coming in Phase 2.
Still not sure? Upload your file — Specwarden auto-detects the standard.
Upload your file — Specwarden auto-detects