ISO 12132:2017

Plain bearings - Quality assurance of thin-walled half bearings - Design FMEA

ISO 12132:2017 gives guidelines for the preparation of a Design FMEA for thin-walled half bearings used in machinery, e.g. internal combustion engines (the Process FMEA is the responsibility of the supplier). It lists the common potential failure mode(s), potential effect(s) and potential cause(s) of failure. The numerical evaluation of risks in terms of occurrence, severity and detection can be specific to each application, manufacturer and customer. Since they have to be assessed in each case, the numerical data are not included in this document. General guidance on statistical assessment can be obtained from the references.

Paliers lisses — Assurance qualité des demi-coussinets minces — AMDE à la conception

Drsni ležaji - Zagotavljanje kakovosti tankostenih ležajnih blazinic - Konstrukcije FMEA

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 19-Mar-2017
• ICS: 21.100.10 - Plain bearings
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 123/SC 5 - Quality analysis and assurance
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 123/SC 5 - Quality analysis and assurance
• Current Stage: 9092 - International Standard to be revised
• Start Date: 05-Nov-2025
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025
• Ref Project: SIST ISO 12132:2020 - Plain bearings - Quality assurance of thin-walled half bearings - Design FMEA

Relations

• Revises: ISO 12132:1999 - Plain bearings - Quality assurance of thin- walled half bearings - Design FMEA
• Effective Date: 04-Nov-2015

Overview - ISO 12132:2017 (Design FMEA for thin-walled half bearings)

ISO 12132:2017 provides guidance for preparing a Design FMEA specifically for thin-walled half bearings used in machinery (for example, internal combustion engines). The standard lists common potential failure modes, their effects and likely causes, and emphasizes system-level interactions (lubrication, crankshaft, engine block, connecting rods, etc.). It does not include numeric risk ratings (occurrence, severity, detection) because these are application- and customer-specific. Process FMEA remains the supplier’s responsibility. IEC 60812 and ISO 7146 series are referenced for methods and damage characterization.

Key topics and technical focus

• Purpose: Guidance for performing a Design FMEA for plain bearing design and quality assurance.
• FMEA elements: failure mode, failure effect, failure cause - organized for half bearing shells.
• Common failure modes documented (table-based):
  • Fatigue (reduced durability, seizure)
  • Accelerated wear (insufficient oil film, embeddability issues)
  • Scuffing/over‑heating (excessive clearance, poor running-in)
  • Excessive localized wear (features like grooves, holes affecting pressure)
  • Bearing back damage (interference-fit and housing issues)
  • Corrosion (lubricant, coolant, fuel contamination)
  • Cavitation erosion (overlay and groove-related problems)
• Typical causes cited: material selection, journal/housing geometry, improper clearances, inadequate lubrication or filtration, oil supply design, housing stiffness and alignment, thermal expansion, contamination.
• Methodology note: Numerical risk scoring is to be determined by the designer/manufacturer per IEC 60812 and company/customer criteria.

Practical applications and users

Who uses ISO 12132:2017:

• Design engineers and mechanical engineers working on engine and machinery bearing systems
• Reliability and quality assurance teams preparing Design FMEAs
• OEMs and Tier‑1 suppliers specifying bearing requirements
• Failure analysis and maintenance engineers diagnosing bearing damage

Practical uses:

• Structuring Design FMEA sessions to identify bearing-specific risks
• Prioritizing design changes (material, geometry, oil supply, tolerances)
• Informing test plans, inspection points and supplier quality requirements
• Clarifying responsibilities between OEM design (Design FMEA) and supplier processes (Process FMEA)

Related standards

• IEC 60812 - Procedure for FMEA
• ISO 7146-1 and ISO 7146-2 - Appearance/characterization of damage and cavitation erosion in hydrodynamic bearings

Keywords: ISO 12132:2017, Design FMEA, thin-walled half bearings, plain bearings, quality assurance, failure modes, bearing design, lubrication, bearing wear, cavitation erosion.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2020
Drsni ležaji - Zagotavljanje kakovosti tankostenih ležajnih blazinic - Konstrukcije
FMEA
Plain bearings - Quality assurance of thin-walled half bearings - Design FMEA
Paliers lisses - Assurance qualité des demi-coussinets minces - AMDE à la conception
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: ISO 12132:2017
ICS:
21.100.10 Drsni ležaji Plain bearings
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12132
Second edition
2017-03
Plain bearings — Quality assurance
of thin-walled half bearings —
Design FMEA
Paliers lisses — Assurance qualité des demi-coussinets minces —
AMDE à la conception
Reference number
©
ISO 2017
© ISO 2017, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
Ch. de Blandonnet 8 • CP 401
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]
www.iso.org
ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Common potential failure modes, effects and causes for half bearing shells .2
Bibliography . 7
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following
URL: w w w . i s o .org/ iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 123, Plain bearings, Subcommittee SC 5,
Quality analysis and assurance.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 12132:1992), which has been technically
revised.
iv © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

Introduction
FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) is a form of analytical method that helps to define potential
defects of the designed products and to eliminate these defects at the stage of designing.
FMEA is based on combining the experience gained in practice in designing and operation of plain
bearings with the theory of probability.
FMEA increases reliability and quality of the product in question and that of its technology and also
reduces the expenses for testing the product and for improving the technological process.
Systems for the implementation of a Design FMEA are well documented elsewhere and are outside
the scope of this document. These systems aid in the analysis of complex designs, both existing and
projected.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12132:2017(E)
Plain bearings — Quality assurance of thin-walled half
bearings — Design FMEA
1 Scope
This document gives guidelines for the preparation of a Design FMEA for thin-walled half bearings used
in machinery, e.g. internal combustion engines (the Process FMEA is the responsibility of the supplier).
It lists the common potential failure mode(s), potential effect(s) and potential cause(s) of failure.
The numerical evaluation of risks in terms of occurrence, severity and detection can be specific to each
application, manufacturer and customer.
Since they have to be assessed in each case, the numerical data are not included in this document.
General guidance on statistical assessment can be obtained from the references.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
IEC 60812, Analysis techniques for system reliability — Procedure for failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60812 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http:// www .iso .org/ obp
3.1
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
FMEA
method of reliability analysis intended to identify potential failures which have significant consequences
affecting the system performance in the application considered
3.2
Design FMEA
FMEA (3.1) carried out by designers when developing the product
3.3
failure mode
effect by which a failure is observed in the bearing
3.4
failure effect
consequence of a failure mode (3.3) on the bearing system and equipment condition and operation
3.5
failure cause
deficiency or defect which causes a failure mode (3.3)
4 Common potential failure modes, effects and causes for half bearing shells
The connecting rod and main half bearing shells of a machine are only one part of an integrated system
involving the lubricating oil, the lubrication system, the crankshaft, the engine block, the connecting
rods and the half bearing shells themselve
...

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12132
Second edition
2017-03
Plain bearings — Quality assurance
of thin-walled half bearings —
Design FMEA
Paliers lisses — Assurance qualité des demi-coussinets minces —
AMDE à la conception
Reference number
©
ISO 2017
© ISO 2017, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on the internet or an intranet, without prior
written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
the requester.
ISO copyright office
Ch. de Blandonnet 8 • CP 401
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
[e-mail]
www.iso.org
ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Common potential failure modes, effects and causes for half bearing shells .2
Bibliography . 7
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following
URL: w w w . i s o .org/ iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 123, Plain bearings, Subcommittee SC 5,
Quality analysis and assurance.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 12132:1992), which has been technically
revised.
iv © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

Introduction
FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) is a form of analytical method that helps to define potential
defects of the designed products and to eliminate these defects at the stage of designing.
FMEA is based on combining the experience gained in practice in designing and operation of plain
bearings with the theory of probability.
FMEA increases reliability and quality of the product in question and that of its technology and also
reduces the expenses for testing the product and for improving the technological process.
Systems for the implementation of a Design FMEA are well documented elsewhere and are outside
the scope of this document. These systems aid in the analysis of complex designs, both existing and
projected.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12132:2017(E)
Plain bearings — Quality assurance of thin-walled half
bearings — Design FMEA
1 Scope
This document gives guidelines for the preparation of a Design FMEA for thin-walled half bearings used
in machinery, e.g. internal combustion engines (the Process FMEA is the responsibility of the supplier).
It lists the common potential failure mode(s), potential effect(s) and potential cause(s) of failure.
The numerical evaluation of risks in terms of occurrence, severity and detection can be specific to each
application, manufacturer and customer.
Since they have to be assessed in each case, the numerical data are not included in this document.
General guidance on statistical assessment can be obtained from the references.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
IEC 60812, Analysis techniques for system reliability — Procedure for failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60812 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http:// www .iso .org/ obp
3.1
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
FMEA
method of reliability analysis intended to identify potential failures which have significant consequences
affecting the system performance in the application considered
3.2
Design FMEA
FMEA (3.1) carried out by designers when developing the product
3.3
failure mode
effect by which a failure is observed in the bearing
3.4
failure effect
consequence of a failure mode (3.3) on the bearing system and equipment condition and operation
3.5
failure cause
deficiency or defect which causes a failure mode (3.3)
4 Common potential failure modes, effects and causes for half bearing shells
The connecting rod and main half bearing shells of a machine are only one part of an integrated system
involving the lubricating oil, the lubrication system, the crankshaft, the engine block, the connecting
rods and the half bearing shells themselves. Even the cylinder head material, bolt tightening and cylinder
head gasket material have been known to influence bearing performance. Hence, any consideration of
internal combustion engine bearing design shall include all elements of the system not just the half
bearing shells.
Table 1 gives a list of common potential bearing failure modes and the effects of bearing failure together
with possible causes of failure. It is rare for failures to be encountered un
...