This work focuses on the effectiveness of applying FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) when students design new mechatronics projects in regular classes and lab sessions. Many of these projects require a deep understanding of engineering concepts and their correct application to ensure that the project’s functional requirements are met, while also being robust and minimizing the potential for failure. Students are not always aware of the potential failures a new product or project might encounter until they happen. Therefore, it is essential for engineering students to learn strong and reliable tools to assess and reduce the risk of failure before reaching the testing phase of a design methodology.

FMEA is widely used in industry for the development of new products and the improvement of existing ones. However, its application is not commonly seen in undergraduate curricula at universities. This is because it is often viewed as an administrative tool that students in technical fields tend to overlook or avoid, which is a misconception about its usability and importance. The primary aim of this work is to demonstrate how to effectively apply FMEA, and to evaluate students' understanding and perception of the tool through surveys. Secondly, it aims to assess the quality of student projects in terms of meeting the project's functional requirements without potential failures, through rigorous evaluation of the projects. Thirdly, it analyzes the depth of research students conducted when using FMEA, based on the number of technical references they consulted, such as scientific papers, books, manuals, component datasheets, etc.

The development of the FMEA framework requires students to critically think about how failures are identified, the possible causes of these failures, and the effects they could have on the overall project. For this study, students are required to analyze and rank the severity, occurrence, and detectability of these potential failures. An RPN (Risk Priority Number) is calculated, with a higher RPN indicating a higher risk of failure in most cases. Students must then propose corrective actions to reduce this number, drawing on scientific and technical knowledge.

Keywords: Mechatronics, engineering students, risk, design methodology, quality.