XFRACAS - Web-based failure reporting and problem resolution

Web-based FRACAS

XFRACAS - Web-based failure reporting and problem resolution

Web-based FRACAS

Explore the full functionality of the software

Highly configurable to meet your needs

XFRACAS can be implemented with a single entity (where all users share the same configuration settings and data) or with multiple entities (where different business units have their own separate settings, data and permissions), where you can:

  • Turn features on or off
  • Configure built-in fields and preferences
  • Create your own custom fields
  • Set permissions to control which features a user or group can access

Version 2021 adds new tools for organizations that need additional access restrictions, secure communications and tracking capabilities. You can now configure XFRACAS to:

  • Restrict unauthorized users from accessing certain records through the use of security levels
  • Track who has viewed a particular record as well as the date and time when they viewed it
  • View a historical “snapshot” of data as it existed at a specified point in time
  • Notify users (via a daily, subscription-based e-mail digest) when records have been updated
  • Automatically disable account access after users fail to log in for a specified period

The optional Go-Live Service includes an on-site visit from an XFRACAS implementation specialist, training for up to 10 “power users” and assistance to configure your implementation to meet your particular processes and needs.

Personalized portal for each user

The XFRACAS home page provides a customizable, at-a-glance view of all the issues you need to work on, such as:

  • Actions you need to complete
  • Incidents, problems, or projects you need to address
  • Reports that you frequently use
  • Global or local announcements and links

Incident (failure) reporting

In XFRACAS, each “incident” deals with a single instance of a failure, suggestion or other event so you can track how it was addressed and capture sufficient detail for reliability and related analyses:

  • Fully describe the incident and link or attach relevant files.
  • Identify the responsible part(s) and notify owners.
  • Record the operating time/usage when the failure occurred.
  • Assign responsibility for specific actions and track their completion.

Tools for capturing findings from failure analyses on returned parts

If parts are removed/replaced and returned for more in-depth failure analysis, XFRACAS can capture additional details, such as the RMA number, sales order number or work order number, findings from the visual inspection and detailed analysis, fault history or sensor data, or other test results.

Part tracking for serialized systems

If you are tracking specific systems by serial/TAG number, XFRACAS can capture a detailed history for each piece of equipment, such as:

  • Installation details
  • Reported incidents
  • Operating time or usage
  • Exact system configuration as parts are repaired and replaced over time
  • Current status of the system (running, waiting for part)

Tools for tracking the completion of assigned actions

Throughout XFRACAS, you can assign actions to system users and track their progress and completion.

  • Descriptions of the assignment with links or relevant attachments
  • Automated e-mail notifications for the person responsible and other users who need to monitor or approve the actions taken
  • Reports and charts to track progress and completion

Root cause analysis and team-based problem resolution

In XFRACAS, a “problem” is a larger issue that may require a team-based approach to understand the root cause and implement improvements. Designed to prevent similar issues from recurring, problems allow you to.

  • Use any method from 4 to 8 steps (8 Disciplines, Six Sigma DMAIC, DCOV, CAPA)
  • Fully describe the problem and link or attach relevant files
  • Link to all related incident reports
  • Capture findings from root cause analysis
  • Assign responsibility for specific actions and track their completion
  • Track review and sign-off by a Failure Review Board (FRB)

Tools for tracking stats for a group of incidents and problems

In XFRACAS, a “project” groups multiple problems together and provides quick access to high-level statistics for all associated incidents and problems, such as:

  • The number of open/closed issues
  • The amount of time each issue been in the system
  • The status of open issues

Flexible queries and reports

XFRACAS provides a large selection of built-in “standard” reports as well as a flexible Report Builder to create your own or run custom SQL statements. Tabular results are displayed directly in the web browser, where it is easy to:

  • Filter and sort within the results
  • Export to *.xlsx, *.rtf, *.csv, *.pdf
  • Link, “watch” and share with other users

Charts, dashboards and custom XSLT

XFRACAS provides built-in tools to create graphical charts — bar, pie, area, step, scatter and line — for any set of results.

  • Highly customizable
  • Full drill-down capability
  • Configurable dashboards

For even more customized output, you can:

  • Output results to XML, which can be used as a web-based data source in a variety of third-party reporting tools, such as Microsoft Excel (via the Get External Data > From Web feature, for example).
  • Define your own custom XSLT style sheets (Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations).

Data for reliability analysis

The incident reporting process in XFRACAS can produce clean, usable data for reliability analysis in Weibull++. If data entry is based on fully serialized systems, you can extract complete time-to-failure and suspension data by system, subsystem and component.

Integration with FMEAs and SEP

If your organization uses XFMEA / RCM++ for failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), you can:

  • Synchronize the generic system configurations (“bills of materials”)
  • Use an FMEA to define the failure modes that can be assigned to incidents, problems or failure analysis reports in XFRACAS — or use failure modes defined in XFRACAS as input to an FMEA
  • Use the quantity of incidents, problems or failure analysis reports in XFRACAS as input to calculate RPNs in an FMEA

The SEP web portal provides access to key analysis and project management details from ReliaSoft desktop applications such as Weibull++,  XFMEA, and BlockSim, as well as the XFRACAS actions and incidents that are relevant for each user. SEP also provides a way to share selected data and results with customers and suppliers who don’t have direct access to your XFRACAS implementation.

Support for importing / exporting data using XML

XFRACAS uses XML to import or export data to other external systems, such as an asset management system or work order tracking system. It includes a Windows service that runs on the web server and can be configured to automatically import XML files on a scheduled basis. Alternatively, you can develop your own custom application to extract data into the required format and use the XFRACAS web service to trigger the imports. For “bill of materials” data, XFRACAS also supports import via Excel (*.xlsx) template, or synchronizes with the system hierarchies in XFMEA / RCM++.

Scalable and distributable web-based architecture

Whether you have 15 or 15,000 users, XFRACAS is scalable and easy to distribute with no client software to install for each user. Your team can access the site with their preferred web browsers (such as Chrome, Firefox or Safari) from a variety of devices. The website can be public or private, encrypted or unencrypted, using Windows Authentication or Single Sign-On (SSO).

If you plan to host the database and website on the same server, you will need:

  • Windows 2012 or newer
  • .NET 4.6
  • IIS with support for serving ASP.NET
  • SQL Server (2012 or newer) or Oracle (12c or newer)

Ready to take your reliability program further?

Ready to take your reliability program further?