Risk Management Methodology Research Articles

A risk-based decision support system in local railways management

The management of a railway infrastructure involves the collaboration of different experts and the continuous choice between alternatives under the constraint of available economic funds with the need to maintain high levels of operational safety. This is even more significant for local railway networks where financial resources are limited. For this reason, decision-making tools play a central role, allowing to evaluate interventions based on their effects on system risk level. In this sense, the Risk Based-Decision Support Systems are becoming increasingly popular in railway sector, where are used for the optimization of the maintenance of the elements of the infrastructure, such as the track, civil works, level crossing and so on. A unified vision is not yet widespread and the application of the risk assessment and intervention programming process considering all the elements of the network and their interaction is still lacking. The aim of this work is to present a quantitative risk management methodology for railways to support decision-making processes for quantification and control of all the factors affecting the safety level of railway systems characterized by limited resources. The methodology is then applied on a local railway for the evaluation and prioritization of safety improvements interventions.

NC 4.0, a Novel Approach to Nonconformities Management: Prioritizing Events With Risk Management Tools.

Quality 4.0, the correspondent quality practice fit to address the Industry 4.0 mindset, is expected to provide models and processes endorsed by continuous improvement and data-driven proofs, especially given the exponential growth in available data. The research consolidates the reality of big data availability (part of Quality 4.0) with a generic aspect of quality—managing nonconformities. Its purpose is to suggest a model to improve the initiation step for dealing with nonconformity by prioritizing these events. The new concept in the model suggested is incorporating the risk management method of prioritizing into the nonconformity’s management. These tools are designed to transform qualitative data into quantitative ones and enable easier decision-making, in this case, choosing which issue to deal with first. The research approach is developing and testing the suggested model as a pilot in a real production environment to establish its impact and define key guidelines for utilizing it in various processes and, in addition, to conduct a survey among quality experts from different organizations for reference. Two main outcomes were achieved during the research: The quality experts’ survey welcomed the model concept as a structured tool based on the solid risk management methodology. Implementing the model on actual production lines resulted in a significant reduction of NC financial impact as the events were solved as per their impact.

MANAGING RISK WITH THE USE OF COMPUTER SIMULATION

Internal and external risk management has become an important issue in today's global business environment, which is fraught with health, natural, political, economic and technical threats. This article deals with the design of a methodology for problem-solving and risk management in connection with computer simulation. The risk management methodology proposed by us consists of individual steps, which are summarized into three stages - risk assessment, risk analysis and risk management. The proposed computer simulation methodology consists of several steps, for example creating a parametric simulation model, designing experiments, analysis of the simulation model results or the evaluation of the simulation results. These steps are described in the article. After completing the previous steps, we describe the points of an action plan and what it must contain to avoid consequences and the impact of risks at the lowest possible level. An example of the use of computer simulation is the risk situation associated with the fluctuation of employees. In the end, the proposed methodology is supported by the results of our research and its further direction.

AIRPORT ALoSP AND INTEGRATED RISK APPROACH FOR SSPs

This work proposed the development of a methodology for risk management in airports for ICAO’s State Safety Programmes (SSP). To do so we investigated the nature of the airport safety events occurred in busiest Brazilian airports and proposed a risk index capable to provide the Acceptable Level of Safety Performance (ALoSP) ICAO demands to their signatory States. The approach allowed us to rank airports per their risk in relation to the ALoSP calculated and proposed State optimized regulatory actions to where the risk is. Research found the high concentration on risk recurrence among 31 airports. Only 4 concentrated 30% of all the recurrence of risk, 8 were responsible for 50% and 17 represented approximately 80% of the total risk load in Brazilian airport operations. Five groups of airports are proposed as per their safety performance (Safety+2, Safety+1, Neutral, Safety-1 and Safety-2). Their measured performance showed statistically significant differences. Safety+1 group presented a safety performance 1.49 times better than ALoSP and 3.52 times better than worst group of airports (Safety-2). The Safety+2 group is 3.76 times safer than ALoSP and 8.88 times safer than Safety-2 group. Safety-1 group presented a risk level 1.51 times higher than ALoSP and Safety-2 performed 2.35 times riskier than the ALoSP. This matrix way of problem solving brings more effectiveness and rationality to the SSP’s, amplifying their effectiveness.

Water Safety Plan: Importance of including epidemiological data in risk assessment in drinking water supply

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The World Health Organization - WHO, through the first volume of the third edition of the GDWQ (WHO, 2004), published in September 2004, recommended that management entities of public water supply systems develop security plans (PSA) to guarantee water quality, incorporating risk assessment and management methodologies, as well as good system operation practices. PSA is an instrument with a preventive approach, with the objective of ensuring safe water, including minimizing contamination in the spring, eliminating, or removing contamination through water treatment and preventing (re) contamination in the distribution system. The requirements for preventive management, aiming at water safety must encompass five main components: 1. Health based on goals and an assessment of epidemiological and health issues; 2. Evaluation system to determine if the supply of drinking water is within the parameters that meet the health goal; 3. Operational control of the drinking water supply control measures; 4. Management plans documenting the evaluation and monitoring system, describing actions to be taken under normal and emergency conditions; 5. Independent surveillance system that checks if it is operating correctly. AIM: To analyze the standardization of waterborne morbidities, forms of analysis and the proposal for inclusion in the PSA with an epidemiological approach to health. METHODS: Descriptive study. We analyzed reports made available by the UN and the Ministry of Health of Brazil. 8 PSA in Brazil, were analyzed to assess whether epidemiological data were included RESULTS:It was identified that only three PSA included SUS hospital morbidity data, which were from the municipalities of Cordeirópolis, Ipeúna and Santa Barbara D ’Oeste CONCLUSIONS:There is a need for standardization of waterborne morbidities, forms of analysis and proposal for inclusion in PSA considering an epidemiological approach to health in LAC countries and especially Brazil, emphasizing the importance of epidemiology in PSA. KEYWORDS: Water quality, Waterborne diseases, Environmental epidemiology, Policy and practice

Pandemic risk management; protecting people while ensuring business continuity

The COVID‐19 pandemic swept across the globe in the latter half of 2019, throughout 2020 and into 2021. In response, many organizations implemented work from home policies, while others stopped operations entirely in an effort to limit the spread throughout their workforce and supporting communities. This containment strategy was not universally viable; long‐term shutdowns impacted the economic viability of companies, and some industries were designated as an “essential service” and thus continued operations. These employers faced the proposition of balancing the needs of the business and the community with a continued responsibility to provide a safe workplace for employees. This paper demonstrates how the application of common risk management methodologies, such as bowtie analysis combined with an appropriate assurance and verification process (e.g., the lines of defense model), can help the risks associated with a resumption or continuation of in‐person operations in a pandemic to be better understood and ensure the measures in place to manage said risk are appropriate and effective.

Risk management methodology in the supply chain: a case study applied

This work provides a general risk management procedure applied to synchronized supply chains. After conducting a literature review and taking the international standard ISO 28000 and ISO 31000 as a reference. The most important steps that enable organizations to carry out supply chain risk management are described. Steps such as defining the context, identifying and analyzing risks or avoiding them, controlling them and mitigating them are some of the main points of this work. On the other hand, we carried out a practical case in which the execution of this procedure is carried out in a real supply chain located in the city of Jaén. In this specific case study, the most important risks and those that require early treatment will be discussed. In addition, a series of suggestions and ideas will be established, by way of conclusions, that allow said organization to improve the results that we have obtained in risk management.

Risk Management as a Component of the Brand Strategy of a Retailer

Introduction. The article considers the issue of risk identification for retailers in order to take them into account in the process of forming a brand strategy. The purpose of the article is to analyze the possible risks for retailers in order to develop measures to prevent them, which must be taken into account in the formation of brand strategy. Results. The concept of risk for a retailer and its components are defined. Risks by classification by the nature of emergency are considered. External and internal risks are characterized, the latter is by types of sphere of influence. It is shown how certain types of risks affect the brand in general and its reputation in particular. Risks that are difficult to predict even with effective risk management planning are identified. The factors that determine the need for risk management are outlined. It is proved that taking into account these factors in the process of forming the brand strategy of a retailer will positively affect the efficiency of its activities. Risk management in a trading company should be cyclical and continuous. It will be effective only if all types of risks are identified, controlled and reduced with constant monitoring. A set of actions aimed at planning risk management at a trading company is defined. It is noted that in order to promote risk management activities, a retailer needs to develop its own methodology for continuous risk management, taking into account the specifics of a particular company. This approach to risk management will be critical to a comprehensive management process and will ensure that risk indicators for the enterprise are handled efficiently and properly. Conclusions. Given the fact that risk management is important for the effective operation of a retailer in a competitive environment, the factors that determine it are identified. Timely identification of risks for a retailer will ensure its efficiency, provided that risk management is cyclical and continuous. It is proved that the mechanism of continuous management will allow to identify risks in time and with the help of preventive measures to reduce the costs for a retailer, which in turn will reduce the reputational losses of the brand. This mechanism should be a mandatory part of the brand strategy for any retailer.

Evaluating the role of scrum methodology for risk management in information technology enterprises

This study aims to investigate the relationship between Scrum framework and risk management processes in Malaysia. Companies discuss the management based on a concerned business scale and the influence risk management in Malaysia Information technology projects success. This research is targeting Information technology firms and technology projects. Were researched through guarantee inside and out comprehension of the postulation foundation. In the outcome segment, the author influences a few proposals for the case to small-scale organizations to actualize ventures and to develop risk management successfully. The phases of risk management, in particular the step of risk detection, have a detrimental impact on project performance. Furthermore, risk control has its own risks as a mechanism. This makes it impossible to know if risk management is an appropriate approach in the IT production process for managing and minimizing risks. The study shows the effect of risk management in IT businesses is utilized in the Scrum

Risk Management in Ready Mixed Concrete (RMC) Plant by Using FMEA and ANP

Due to technological development, gigantic skyscrapers and mega projects are possible resulting into increased demand of concrete for these projects. In municipal areas, site locations are in congested places where manual mixing is not possible. As Ready Mixed Concrete (RMC) is favoured more as it provides concrete of required quality and of required quantity. The success of RMC industry depends upon proper identification and assessment of risks or failure modes involved in various stages in concrete production. RMC industry is extremely complex in nature which contain many uncertainties resulting into complex risk management methodologies. The main aim of the research is to determine most critical risk that can occur at Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) plant and to provide suggestions to mitigate the most critical risk or failure modes. To achieve this aim, Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA) is used combined with Analytical Network Process (ANP) to access and prioritize the risks involved at RMC plant as six risks resulted into same Risk Priority Number (RPN). Finally, it was concluded that injury at site is most critical risk involved at RMC plant. The research also provides suggestion to mitigate most critical risk.

Risk management in the design of the organization and technology for the construction and their implementation

Risks are inevitable in any construction project. Risk management methodology is used to eliminate or mitigate their consequences in construction project management. Risk management involves the establishment of risk awareness, integration of basic principles of risk policy and organizational integration. This allows you to actively prepare the project for the inevitable problems and increase transparency. This is an ongoing process throughout the project life cycle, as the risks will be constantly changing. Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing and responding to risks, so it is important to work as an integrated project team from the first phases to identify risks and effectively deal with them when they arise. The benefits of the process are a clearer understanding of the specific risks associated with the project, supported by solutions through detailed analysis and accumulation of data that can be used to manage risks in the future.
 Ineffective implementation of risk management is often due to the lack of formalized procedures, lack of continuity in different phases of the project and inadequate integration of knowledge management and interaction between processes and parties.
 The article reveals the importance of identifying risks at the very first stage, which allows to reduce the problems during their detection. Attention is paid to risk analysis and risk management at all stages of the project. This is especially important when building in compacted buildings.
 A risk management plan is proposed, which provides timely identification and identification of potential problems and should be integrated into the project, from conceptual design to operation with extension to each stage. It should be based on principles such as risk identification, risk assessment, risk response and risk monitoring. The element of risk management algorithm is considered in more detail - identification of initial risks by creating and using a risk register, especially in the conditions of compacted construction.

Implementation of the concept of hierarchical construction of threats to economic security of the state in risk management of the economic entities of fuel and energy complex

The subject of this research is the key element of ensuring the economic interests of company owners – the system of risk management and internal control. Special attention  is given to the methodology of risk management for the analysis of normative documents – laws, recommendations and standards, as well as the experience of their practical application. Comparative analysis is conducted on the corporate norms with the approaches in national strategic goal-setting with regards to national, economic and energy security, in order to develop the theory and practice of ensuring economic security of the economic entities based on the instruments devised within the system of national goal-setting. The object of this research is the economic entities and investment projects of fuel and energy complex. The scientific novelty lies in adjustment of the hierarchy of construction of challenges, threats and risks of the national strategic goal-setting in the sphere of economic security to solution of the tasks aimed at ensuring economic security of the economic entities. The relevance of the acquired results is substantiated by the difference of the authorial approach towards risk analysis in fuel and energy complex in the economic entities. Comparing to the approach of standards recommended by the economic activity regulators, which implies a single category of insecurities – “risk”, the distinction consists in implementation of the concept of hierarchical construction of the system of insecurities: challenge, threat, risk (concepts from the goal-setting documents on ensuring economic security of the state) in the new sphere of risk management of the economic entity. The authors’ original research indicate that introduction of the hierarchy of insecurities (challenges, threats, and risks) at the stage of risk identification allows simplifying and clarifying the procedure of risk assessment.

A risk assessment method based on the failure analysis of medical devices in the adult Intensive Care Unit

Backgrounds and Objective: The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) receives patients whose situation demands high complexity tasks. Their recovery depends on medical care, their response to medications and clinical procedures, and the optimal functioning of the medical devices devoted to them. Adverse events in ICU due to failures in the facilities, particularly medical devices, have an important impact not only on the patients but also on the operators and all those involved in their care. The origins of the technological failures seem to be more oriented to the interaction between the equipment and the operator: once the medical equipment is functioning, we must guarantee its correct execution to meet both the clinical service's objectives and the expectations of those involved in care, including the patients themselves. We present an approach to quality management based on failure analysis as the source of risk for medical devices' functioning and operation in the ICU. We decided to address it through a systematic approach by using the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) method and the Ishikawa diagrams' support to obtain the causes graphically.
 Material and Methods: We used the risk analysis framework as a basis of the methodology. By obtaining the causes and sub causes of technological failures in the ICU for adult patients, we applied the FMEA method and the Ishikawa diagrams to analyze the relationship between cause and failure. The ICU devices came from the Official Mexican Standard and WHO information related to the ICU operation and facilities. The data from the causes of failure came from specialized consultation and discussion forums on medical devices where these topics were addressed; we searched for over five years in Spanish forums. We proposed a calculation of the Risk Priority Number based on the information subtracted from the forums. Then, we defined an indicator showing the priority level that can be used to address the issue.
 Results: In general, the results showed that most of the medical equipment failure causes have medium and high-risk priority levels and, in some cases, the cause presented as the most prevalent didn't match with the reported in official documents such as technical or operation manuals. The most frequent causes found are related to electrical system issues and operation skills. We presented three study cases: defibrillator, vital sign monitor, and volumetric ventilator, to show the risk level designation. The conclusions inferred from these cases are oriented to training strategies and the development of support material in Spanish.
 Conclusion: The development of risk management methodologies that aim to monitor and solve potential hazard situations in critical areas is valuable to the health technology management program. The FMEA method showed to be a strong basis for the risk assessment processes, and its application to the ICU medical technology allowed the creation of the evidence supporting the decision-making process concerning strategic solutions to guarantee patient safety

Risk Management of Bored Piling Construction on Sandy Soils with Real-Time Cost Control

In a global society, in which geotechnical projects are increasingly designed in a country other than the one where construction takes place, geotechnical risk management must be extended to cover infrastructure works, which are smaller than dams and tunnels, for example, since there is a significant impact on works budget imponderables. Therefore, a risk management methodology based on the likelihood of the occurrence of certain events and their economic consequences is proposed, which is applicable to bored piles (Kelly drilled) in coarse soils, easy to use, and simple to implement since the initial stage of construction. Of 12 case studies of construction works involving bored piles (Kelly drilled) carried out in Luanda (Angola), two selected examples involving the proposed risk methodology on sandy soil layers with interbedded clays are discussed. Subsequently, whether the overall foundation contract budget is affected by assessed risk is determined, and what influence it has on the budget in the light of mitigating factors and associated real costs. This method intended to encourage the adaptation of sustainable risk management in bored piles construction by the site project managers, involving risk analysis concurrently with budgetary review. Though the level of assessed technical risk may be acceptable, overall costs associated with the contract in question may not be acceptable.

WITHDRAWN: AI-based framework for risk estimation in workplace

Abstract A significant problem for industrial management has always been the frequency of workplace fatalities and injuries. From production plants to offices to construction sites and beyond, every workplace has safety threats and hazards. To recognize certain objects, circumstances, practices, etc., that can cause harm, especially to individuals, a detailed look at the workplace becomes crucial. It is important to evaluate and determine how severe and likely the danger is after identification is made. The range of cumulative challenges, partially linked to technology developments with rising expectations, has to be broadly considered. Currently, it needs systematic risk estimation, enhancement of past lessons in learning, and the concept of appropriate data processing techniques to be combined with adequate capacity to cope with unforeseen events and provide the right support to enable risk management. Therefore, this paper suggests a risk management methodology focused on artificial intelligence (AI). A Deep Neural Network for Workplace Risk Estimation (DNN-WRE) model is explicitly generated and trained to predict the working environment's risks. The DNN-WRE is evaluated by a common risk prediction seen in the workplace, i.e., Musculoskeletal Disorders (MDs). Furthermore, this paper re-tuned the transfer learning network ResNet 18 to predict MDs. The training and validation of the proposed DNN-WRE have been observed with the highest prediction accuracy of 93.86% compared with the pre-trained ResNet 18 model.

災害・事故に起因する化学物質リスクの評価・管理手法

災害・事故に起因する化学物質リスクの評価・管理手法

Application of a decision support tool for the risk management of a metro system

ABSTRACT Risk Management assumed over years a central role of safe management of metro railway operation. Since exposure of passengers to hazards cannot be avoided, risk cannot be cancelled but controlled and brought back to acceptable levels. The quantification of system risk level and of the effects of any decision on infrastructural or operational changes must be carefully evaluated. A methodology for in-depth risk analysis within a risk-based decision management is crucial not only to identify the risk, but especially to assess and manage it. This work introduces a complete Risk Management methodology which quantitatively analyses the causes and consequences, assessing all the influence factors of metro safety. Using as example the derailment risk level, an application to an operating metro is presented assessing the effects in terms of safety risk of three different management decisions and highlighting the impact that those choices have on safety.

THE USE OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGIES AND PROJECT RISK MANAGEMENT IN THE LIGHT OF EMPIRICAL RESEARCH

The main purpose of the paper is to examine, on the basis of empirical research, the perceived manner of project management in organizations, as well as to determine the frequency of application of selected project management methodologies, in addition to the assessment of their usefulness for project risk management. The first part of the paper presents - identified on the basis of literature studies - types and examples of project management methodologies along with basic assumptions of the project risk management process, and in the second part - the results of empirical research conducted by recourse to a questionnaire among the participants of projects implemented in various types of organizations. The study showed that in organizations employing respondents, the methodical manner of project management is most often used, while the most popular project management methodologies were PMBoK, Agile and PRINCE2, wherein respondents highly rated the usefulness of selected methodologies for effective project risk management.

Hazard identification methodology for underground coal mine risk management - Root-State Hazard Identification

Hazard identification is the basis and premise of underlying risk management in underground coal mines. Although a large amount of research has been conducted on hazard identification methods applied to underground coal mines, additional improvements are possible. The traditional hazard identification methods apply to a specific incident or event or are based on experience and therefore lack a systematic and comprehensive identification framework. In this paper, the Root-State Hazard Identification (RSHI) method is proposed to solve the above issues and identify the hazards in underground coal mine risk management. Firstly, the paper categorizes the underground coal mine hazards into root hazards and state hazards and then differentiates their internal relationships. Secondly, the paper explores the relationships among the hazards, risks and accidents in detail. Thirdly, the framework of the RSHI method is proposed based on the hazard classification and relationships among the hazards, risks and accidents. Finally, the proposed RSHI method is applied to identify hazards associated with the risk management of six mines that belong to the Yima Coal Industry Group in China. The results indicate that the RSHI method is capable of comprehensively identifying root hazards and state hazards associated with the underground coal mine risk management. Moreover, its application procedure is simple and convenient and reduces the need for the joint identification and coordination of various types of workers.

Writing ‘usable’ Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) safety cases using bowtie methodology

Historically, the majority of Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) Safety Cases have been produced and implemented under highly prescriptive regulatory regimes, with emphasis placed on demonstrations of the robustness of the facility’s design basis against a set of deterministic criteria and technical standards and rules set by the Regulatory Body. This has resulted in Safety Cases that are technically sound, but at the same time too complex and not easily accessible to and usable by persons responsible for ensuring safe operations; i.e. operations and maintenance staff who are in direct control of the plant as well as managers who are accountable for safety – the key end-users.Shortcomings regarding the ‘usability’ of the Safety Cases are not new and have been the subject of discussion in recent years. They are deeply rooted in the way these documents are produced and implemented. It means that in order to overcome these difficulties attention should be focused primarily on the Safety Case process, affording it the same importance that is given to the final product – the documented Safety Case. This paper explores the advantages that incorporation of the Bowtie risk management methodology into the Safety Case (production) strategy can bring to the delivery of a fit-for-purpose, accessible and usable Safety Case, supporting current efforts undertaken by the nuclear industry to ensure ‘Right First Time Safety Cases’.The paper also suggests that the conduct of Bowtie workshops - in the author’s opinion, the most important part of the Bowtie building process – provides vital input from the people who have most knowledge and experience of the plant and its current operational status. It enables the Bowtie diagrams to reflect the ‘operational reality’ in the plant, by providing a real picture of the actual barrier condition and, more importantly, to identify those barriers that need to be strengthened. The latter will have a direct effect on the usability of the resultant Safety Case product during plant operation.A generic Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) design has been taken as an example to highlight the claimed advantages. The paper reflects how Bowtie diagrams can be built within a workshop setting that depicts how a particular accident scenario can be managed through appropriate barriers and controls. It also shows how the use of Bowtie diagrams can make the Safety Case process a true ‘aid’ to thinking and deliver a final product that is accessible and easy-to-understand by key end-users.