A failure mode, effects and criticality analysis-based method for formwork assessment and selection in building construction

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims at introducing a method based on the failure mode, effects and criticality analysis (FMECA) to aid in selecting the most suitable formwork system with the minimum overall cost.Design/methodology/approachThe research includes a review of the literature around formwork selection and analysis of data collected from the building construction industry to understand material failure modes. An FMECA-based model that estimates the total cost of a formwork system is developed by conducting a two-phased semi-structured interview and regression and statistical analyses. The model comprises material, manpower and failure mode costs. A case study of fifteen buildings is analysed using data collected from construction projects in the UAE to validate the model.FindingsResults obtained indicate an average accuracy of 89% in predicting the total formwork cost using the proposed method. Moreover, results show that the costs incurred by failure modes account for 11% of the total cost on average.Research limitations/implicationsThe analysis is limited to direct costs and costs associated with risks; other costs and risk factors are excluded. The proposed framework serves as a guide to construction project managers to enhance decision-making by addressing the indirect cost of failure modes.Originality/valueThe research proposes a novel formwork system selection method that improves upon the subjective conventional selection process by incorporating the risks and uncertainties associated with the failure modes of formwork systems into the decision-making process.

Retrofitting Technologies for Eco-Friendly Ship Structures: A Risk Analysis Perspective

“…This identification is based on a thorough analysis of the technology's design, operation, and interaction with existing ship systems. Following this, each identified failure mode is evaluated for its potential effects, considering factors such as safety implications, environmental impacts, operational disruptions, and regulatory non-compliance [49]. Criticality analysis is then conducted to quantify the risk associated with each failure mode [50,51].…”