A Proposition for Combining Rough Sets, Fuzzy Logic and FRAM to Address Methodological Challenges in Safety Management: A Discussion Paper

Hussein Slim,Sylvie Nadeau

doi:10.3390/safety6040050

Hussein Slim, Sylvie Nadeau

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/safety6040050

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Abstract

In recent years, the focus in safety management has shifted from failure-based analysis towards a more systemic perspective, redefining a successful or failed performance as a complex and emergent event rather than as a conclusion of singular errors or root causes. This paradigm shift has also necessitated the introduction of innovative tools capable of capturing the complex and dynamic nature of modern sociotechnical systems. In our research, we argued at previous stages for adopting a more systemic and human-centric perspective to evaluate the context of aircraft de-icing operations. The Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) was applied in the first stage for this purpose. Consequently, fuzzy logic was combined with FRAM in the second stage to provide a quantified representation of performance variability. Fuzzy logic was used as a quantification tool suitable for computing with natural language. Several limitations were found in the data collection and rule generation process for the first prototype. In the third phase, the model was further improved by integrating rough sets as a data-mining tool to generate and reduce the size of the rule base and classify outcomes. In this paper, we reflect on the three stages of the project and discuss in a qualitative manner the challenges and limitations faced in the development and application of the models. A summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the three models as experienced in our case are presented at the end. The objective is to present an outlook for future studies to address methodological limitations in the study of complex sociotechnical systems.

Highlights

Driven by the human need to ensure safety and to be free from harm, significant research efforts have been always directed towards improving the performance of sociotechnical systems
The expansion of Industry 4.0 into several fields and the introduction of new technologies as the move from gate de-icing to centralized de-icing, or future innovations such as the new Ground Ice Detection System (GIDS), and possibly the application of drones that uses the internet of things, etc., are all challenges that require further research from a safety angle
Realizing the significance and validity of the principles, on which Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) was founded, there still existed uncertainty concerning its usefulness in the case of the SK751 crash

Summary

Introduction

Driven by the human need to ensure safety and to be free from harm, significant research efforts have been always directed towards improving the performance of sociotechnical systems. Because of this human drive, the perspective on what constitutes safe and adequate performance went through an evolution over the years since the introduction of the concepts of risk and safety management. Preventive measures focused on breaking the chain of events and avoiding errors and malfunctions that could set the chain in motion This approach was carried over to other methods later such as the Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)

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