Technical risk analysis in construction by means of fmea methodology

The aim of quality management is to identify an activity performance level or a grade of client satisfaction and link it up to failure risk, damage or performance loss. Risk management represents a strategic dimension of management methodology in order to plan more reliable and efficient processes. Numerous techniques are at present available for practitioners in project risk management. However, interest has rarely been focused on the question of technical risk analysis. The aim here, therefore, is to relate the latter to environmental, organizational and technical factors affecting production processes. An experimental Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) procedure for analysing risk factors in construction phases is presented. Based on a scheme of integrated tools, the technique aims to provide a hierarchical knowledge of risk factors leading to a systematic approach that represents a non-conformance critical conditions analysis in construction management. An FMEA-style risk analysis supports quality management for determining a graduation of the appropriate prevention measures, in order to contribute to obtaining higher efficiency levels.