Failure analysis is one of the best tools for any aerospace supplier or manufacturer. The scientific method-based approach to establishing cause and effect can be used across all phases of a product's lifecycle, from prototyping and testing to in-service maintenance and repairs. Failure analysis asks the right questions to find the right answers. Answers that, beyond improving quality, performance, costs and reliability, can be a powerful defense in preventing devastating consequences. This white paper covers failure analysis in depth: defining failure analysis, identifying the common causes, and illuminating the testing methods involved.