The　traditional　failure　mode,　effect,　and　criticality　analysis　(FMECA)　uses　risk　priority　number　(RPN)　to　evaluate　the　risk　level　of　a　failure　mode.　The　RPN　index　is　calculated　by　multiplication　of　severity,　occurrence　and　detection　factors.　The　most　critically　debated　disadvantage　of　this　approach　is　that　various　combinations　of　these　three　factors　may　produce　an　identical　value　of　RPN.　This　paper　reviews　the　drawbacks　in　traditional　FMECA　and　proposes　a　new　approach　to　overcome　these　shortcomings.　The　proposed　approach　evaluates　risk　of　failure　mode　by　encouragement-variable-weighted　analytic　hierarchy　process　(EVW-AHP)　that　can　prioritize　failure　modes　even　if　two　or　more　failure　modes　have　same　RPN.　An　example　is　provided　to　show　the　potential　applications　of　the　proposed　approach　and　the　detailed　computational　process　is　presented.　The　results　based　on　the　case　study　show　the　proposed　new　methodology　solves　the　limitations　of　traditional　FMECA　approach　and　is　feasible.　©　(2013)　Trans　Tech　Publications,　Switzerland.