0000000000335034
AUTHOR
C. M. La Fata
A MCDM-based methodology to evaluate the mutual influence among performance shaping factors
In recent decades, risk analysts have widely focused on Human Reliability Analysis (HRA) methods to assess the contribution of human errors to system failures, also considering contextual and cognitive factors named Performance Shaping Factors (PSFs). Initially implemented in the field of Nuclear Power Plants (NNPs), HRA methods have been extended to different sectors in recent years. Despite that, the majority of contributions in the field assume the independence among PSFs, which may result in an over or under estimation of the Human Error Probability (HEP). Therefore, the present paper proposes a DEMATEL-based approach to evaluate the mutual influence between PSFs proposed by the SPARH m…
Some consistency issues in multi-criteria decision making
The complexity of decision-making problems included under the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) paradigm has favored the proliferation of many schools of thought and varied methodologies. It has not yet been possible to prove the supremacy of any of these approaches. Moreover, in some cases it is difficult to combine the theoretical validity of the approximations with their practical appropriateness. It seems that rigor and applicability are two opposing concepts, something that should not be so. It is our responsibility to bridge the gap. To reduce the gap between theory and practice and use effective methodological approaches, it is necessary to combine the rigor and objectivity of tr…
Improving the logistic process of orders dispatching through a multi-criteria decision-making perspective
International audience; Far from being a mere production-oriented mission, competition among companies has to be considered as a much wider concept, largely based on effective supply chain management. Implementing suitable supply chain strategies is indeed crucial for enterprises seeking to strengthen their own position in the market against their competitors. With this recognition, one of the main issue in the logistic field is the suppliers and orders management, that is a complex decision-making problem depending on a wide set of aspects mutually correlated and often conflicting each other. This is the reason why assuming a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) perspective is useful to d…
Combined HACCP and TOPSIS-based approach to prioritize risks in the salmon manufacturing process: A case study
The food safety risk assessment is defined by the Codex Alimentarius Commission as the scientific evaluation of known or potential adverse health effects resulting from human exposure to food-borne hazards. Nowadays, the implementation of a systematic and disciplined risk assessment approach in the food safety field is recognized to be a powerful tool for carrying out science-based analyses and for reaching sound consistent solutions to food safety problems. With this recognition, a combined Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS)-based approach is proposed in the present paper to prioritize risks of t…
Improved FMECA for effective risk management decision making by failure modes classification under uncertainty
Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) is a proactive reliability and risk management technique extensively used in practice to ensure high system performance by prioritising failure modes. Owing to the limitations of traditional FMECA, multi-criteria decision-making methods have been employed over the past two decades to enhance its effectiveness. To consider the vagueness and uncertainty of the FMECA evaluation process, an interval-based extension of the Elimination et Choice Translating Reality (ELECTRE) TRI method is proposed in the present paper for the classification of failure modes into risk categories. Therefore, ratings of failure modes against risk parameters are…
The FTOPSIS method to support FMECA analyses
This paper proposes an approach based on multi-criteria decisional methods to manage the results derived from reliability analyses. In detail, this paper proposes ranking the failure modes of a system when analyzed with failure modes, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA) using the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solutions (TOPSIS). To better manage the uncertainty of evaluations made under the differing criteria, the TOPSIS method is applied in its fuzzy version (FTOPSIS). When the method is applied to a case study, the results highlight the main possible critical faults and supply fundamental information to take into account during the scheduling of maintenance ac…
Human reliability analysis to support the development of a software project
The Human Reliability Analysis (HRA) is considered as a useful tool in predicting and quantifying the occurrence of human errors during the execution of a specific task. With this recognition, the present paper firstly aims at discussing the support given by HRA methodologies to the fault risk evaluation. Then, the Technique for Human Error Rate Prediction (THERP) is suggested to evaluate the success probability of a software development project.
k-out-of-n systems: an exact formula for the stationary availability and multi-objective configuration design based on mathematical programming and TOPSIS
[EN] Reliability and availability analyses are recognized as essential for guiding decision makers in the implementation of actions addressed to improve the technical and economical performance of complex systems. For industrial systems with reparable components, the most interesting parameter used to drive maintenance is the stationary availability. In this regard, the present paper proposes an exact formula for computing the system stationary availability of a k-out-of-n system. Such a formula is proved to be in agreement with the fundamental theorem of Markov chains. Then, a multi-objective mathematical model is formulated for choosing the optimal system configuration design. The Pareto …