Action Priority (AP) Meaning
H High: Must take action to reduce risk, or document that current controls are adequate
M Medium: Should take action, or company may document justification
L Low: May take action; not mandatory
Note: AP is derived from the AIAG-VDA official lookup table, not from S×O×D. Two counter-intuitive rules: S=1 is always L; S=9 to 10 but O=1 is also L.
DFMEA severity is judged by product / vehicle / end user; PFMEA by plant / next operation / end user.