Failure　mode　and　effects　analysis　(FMEA)　is　a　method　that　examines　potential　failures　in　products　or　processes　and　has　been　used　in　many　quality　management　systems.　One　important　issue　of　FMEA　is　the　determination　of　the　risk　priorities　of　failure　modes.　In　this　paper　we　propose　an　FMEA　which　uses　data　envelopment　analysis　(DEA),　a　well-known　performance　measurement　tool,　to　determine　the　risk　priorities　of　failure　modes.　The　proposed　FMEA　measures　the　maximum　and　minimum　risks　of　each　failure　mode.　The　two　risks　are　then　geometrically　averaged　to　measure　the　overall　risks　of　failure　modes.　The　risk　priorities　are　determined　in　terms　of　overall　risks　rather　than　maximum　or　minimum　risks　only.　Two　numerical　examples　are　provided　and　examined　using　the　proposed　FMEA　to　show　its　potential　applications　and　benefits.　©　2009　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.