Application of fuzzy logic based failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) in risk assessment for express boat passenger terminal in Sibu, Sarawak

• Main Author: Franklin, Simon
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2015
• Subjects: TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/13771/3/FRANKLIN%20ft.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/13771/

The focus of this thesis is on the use of fuzzy Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) methodology to facilitate the operation of a river wharf (i.e., Sibu Express Boat Passenger Terminal) in Sarawak, Malaysia. Sarawak is known for its extensive network of navigable rivers, which form an inland waterway transport system. Indeed, river transportation is perhaps the most heavily utilized and common mode of transport in Sarawak. Despite this, there are relatively few reports on the use of a quality and risk assessment tool for the management of river transport in Sarawak. As such, the implementation of an advanced formal quality and risk assessment tool, i.e., the fuzzy Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) methodology to facilitate the operation of Sibu Express Boat Passenger Terminal (especially on safety aspect), is described in this research. Fuzzy FMEA was utilized and can potentially contribute to the management of Sarawak Rivers Board, i.e., to improve service, operation and safety of Sarawak Rivers Board river transportation infrastructures. A risk assessment framework has also been generated from computed results. From the analysis, potential failures ‘hoping on boats to get to pontoons or unto another boat’ and ‘high demand of utilizing boats during peak/ festive season’ have recorded the highest RPN, RPN=324 and RPN=252 respectively and FRPN, FRPN=285.284 and FRPN=257.339 respectively. Also, potential failures ‘overloading of express boats’ and ‘overcrowding of express boats’ have both recorded the same RPN, RPN=189 and FRPN, FRPN=199.803 respectively. Besides, failures ‘Abuse/possession of alcoholic drinks’, ‘Abuse/possession of pornographic materials’, and ‘smoking onboard’ have all recorded the same RPN, RPN=162 and FRPN, FRPN=76.1903 respectively. Therefore, fuzzy FMEA has been applied on a river wharf in Sarawak. vi The results produced are most useful for future development of the decision making tool for river transport in the state.