Foundational data in FMEA refers to the core information that is applicable across all products or processes required to accurately identify, evaluate, and prioritize potential risks.
When data is common to all facets of your organization, then it should be considered Foundational.
Strong foundational data enables consistent scoring, meaningful prioritization, and the development of effective, actionable risk mitigation plans. Without it, FMEA outputs may become unreliable, inconsistent, or ineffective as a true risk management tool.
Where are Foundation records?
There is no separate Foundation tab. Foundation records are the records in the Reusable Library that have no tags applied. To show only Foundation records:
- Go to Admin Center > Reusable Library & Templates > Reusable Library Records.
- Open the Tags dropdown in the toolbar.
- Turn on Filter by Foundation Only. Only rows without tags are shown.
Turn the filter off to see all records again.
What is the Summary window when I save library changes?
When you save changes to Reusable Library records that are used in worksheets, a Summary window opens. It says "The following worksheets may be impacted by these updates:" and lists each affected Worksheet, its Members and the Affected Rows.
- The Download excel summary report option is selected by default, so the list is saved as an Excel file when you click Continue. Clear it if you don't need the file.
- Click Continue to save your changes. Each affected worksheet receives an alert, and the worksheet owner accepts or rejects the update.
- Click Cancel to go back without saving.