In this seminar I will discuss the importance of a methodical approach to failure analysis. Understanding the electrical behavior, physics of failure and developing upfront models of the failure before succumbing to physical analysis. A failure analyst's job is a highly technical activity, requiring interpersonal skills and the leadership qualities of bringing several organizational teams together to develop the models of individual failures. The seminar will emphasize the importance of the knowledge of electrical and physical tools and when and how to use them to derive as much information as possible. The seminar will also touch upon challenges that will emerge in the future as fabrication technologies evolve to higher levels of complexity with new defect types. These challenges will require some fundamentally novel techniques that will supplement current failure analysis methods.