Method of Fuzzy Analysis of Qualitative-Environmental Threat in Improving Products and Processes (Fuzzy QE-FMEA)

Abstract

Improving products and production processes is necessary to ensure the competitiveness of the organisation. As part of these improvements, the popular approach is to use the FMEA method (Failure Mode and Effect Analysis). In the traditional FMEA approach, only the qualitative aspect is included, i.e., the analysis of the quality level of products or processes, its possible incompatibilities, and then proposing improving actions for them. It seems insufficient in times of expansion of the idea of sustainable development and dynamically changing customer requirements. Hence, the purpose of the research is to develop a fuzzy QE-FMEA method to simultaneously analyze hazards for product quality and the natural environment. This method will be based on a fuzzy decision environment. The main elements of originality of the developed method are: (i) extension of the characteristics of the selection of ratings for indicators with triangular fuzzy numbers and the development of a new characteristics of the selection of ratings for the environmental impact indicator, (ii) development of a selection matrix for the qualitative-environmental indicator (QE) according to the rules of triangular fuzzy numbers, (iii) determination of the method of estimating the value of the threat priority, additionally considering the qualitative-environmental indicator (RQE). The complement of research is developed procedure of the Fuzzy QE-FMEA method. It was shown that it is possible to include the effects of incompatibilities (effects of defects occurring in products or processes), which were simultaneously assessed considering the importance and impact on the natural environment. This method will be useful for any company for analysing defects of any products or processes mainly with significant impact on the natural environment.

Study on Quantitative Evaluation Method for Failure Risk Factors of the High-Temperature and High-Pressure Downhole Safety Valve

“…Secondly, a hazard analysis (CA) classifies the failure modes according to their severity and probability of occurrence. FMEA may have incompatibility issues in analysing the quality level of a product or process [28]. Such issues do not exist in FMECA.…”

“…In order to achieve quantitative risk assessment, risk evaluation and decision-making models are needed. The DEMATEL method has certain advantages in portraying experts' evaluation of complex decision-making problems, which has attracted the attention of many scholars [26][27][28]. However, the DEMATEL method has a fuzzy problem in portraying the evaluation results due to the incomplete knowledge of the experts, which makes the evaluation results somewhat subjective.…”

A Novelty Procedure to Identify Critical Causes of Materials Incompatibility

“…The expert (entity) decides what type of analysis he will conduct, i.e., only for qualitative aspects, only for environmental aspects, or for both quality and environmental aspects [ 9 , 51 , 52 ].…”

“…The companies are taking different actions in this area [ 7 ]. One of the basic actions is the investigation of the quality of materials and processes according to the qualitative analysis method for materials, products, or production processes [ 8 , 9 ]. Additionally, the stabilisation of the quality of materials and products is supported by qualitative tests, which should be performed according to the continuous improvement of the cycle [ 6 , 7 , 10 , 11 ].…”