Run FMEA on a Tool-Using Agent
Use FMEA to identify and prioritize agent failure modes before granting tool permissions.
A finance agent will create payment tickets from invoice emails. The team needs to decide which controls must exist before production access. FMEA: function -> failure mode -> effect -> cause -> current control -> stronger control The common trap is reviewing only whether the happy-path tool call works. Tool-using agents fail at the boundaries: duplicate actions, sensitive data, malicious attachments, and weak approvals. Function Define the function as "create a draft payment ticket from a verified invoice email." A verb-noun function makes failure modes specific. "Use finance tools" is too broad to analyze. Failure List possible failure modes: duplicate…
Sign up free — one personalized lesson every day, matched to your role and goals.
Already have an account? Sign in