A failure mode, effects and criticality analysis-based method for formwork assessment and selection in building construction
International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation
ISSN: 2398-4708
Article publication date: 15 July 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This 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/approach
The 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.
Findings
Results 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/implications
The 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/value
The 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.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Office of Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Sharjah for supporting this research study through Project No.: 20020401145.
Citation
Abu Dabous, S., Zadeh, T. and Ibrahim, F. (2022), "A failure mode, effects and criticality analysis-based method for formwork assessment and selection in building construction", International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-01-2022-0007
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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