Harmful Modes and Effects Classification Using Fuzzy Cluster Analysis Case Study: Steel Making Factory of Iran Alloy Steel Company

Abstract

Despite the extensive use of failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) inthe manufacturing and services, emphasis on the results of this method withconcern to the disadvantages such as providing definitive results is notcorrect. This paper tries to clarify the main disadvantages of FMEAconventional method and explain the concept of cluster analysis andspecifications of different models of C-Means to classify harmful modes andeffects in the steel making factory of Iran's alloy steel company using FMEAand fuzzy clustering techniques. In this context, homogeneous harmfulmodes and effects based on occurrence, severity and frequency indicatorswith Fuzzy C-Means clustering (FCM) were identified. In this study, thefuzzy cluster analysis in terms of before and after improvement wasperformed by Data Engine 4.0 software. The results of this research will beuseful for researchers, managers, and safety professionals for developingpractical strategies in order to prevent the consequences of harmful modesand effects

Keywords

• failure modes and effects analysis
• partitional clustering
• fuzzy clustering
• fcm