Establishing a framework for dynamic risk management in 'intelligent' aero-engine control

The behaviour of control functions in safety critical software systems is typically bounded to prevent the occurrence of known system level hazards. These bounds are typically derived through safety analyses and can be implemented through the use of necessary design features. However, the unpredictability of real world problems can result in changes in the operating context that may invalidate the behavioural bounds themselves, for example, unexpected hazardous operating contexts as a result of failures or degradation. For highly complex problems it may be infeasible to determine the precise desired behavioural bounds of a function that addresses or minimises risk for hazardous operation cases prior to deployment. This paper presents an overview of the safety challenges associated with such a problem and how such problems might be addressed. A self-management framework is proposed that performs on-line risk management. The features of the framework are shown in context of employing intelligent adaptive controllers operating within complex and highly dynamic problem domains such as Gas-Turbine Aero Engine control. Safety assurance arguments enabled by the framework necessary for certification are also outlined

Análisis y diseño de assessment basado en COBIT para la evaluación del gobierno TI en las organizaciones

Con este Proyecto pretendemos diseñar un assessment que “llene” el vacío ofrecido por los estándares, ya que se refieren exclusivamente al estándar del que trata. De esta forma, vamos a diseñar una herramienta que unifique los estádares más importantes dentro de las TI, agrupada en el estándar COBIT, en su versión 4.1, con el fin de crear un assessment de autoevalución que ofrezca el nivel de madurez dentro de una empresa, así como una serie de medidas para mejorarlo. El Proyecto se compone de cuatro grandes grupos: Estudio: Recopilar y entender un gran número de marcos de trabajo y estándares disponibles dentro del mundo de las Tecnologías de la Información con los que crearnos una idea inicial de cómo afectan éstos al mundo empresarial. Análisis: Una vez reocpilados todos los assessments y marcos de trabajo disponibles, realizaremos un estudio exhaustivo de las características de cada uno, como pueden ser el estándar que cubre, número de procesos, tipo de evaluación, resultados arrojados, lenguaje de programación, coste… Con el análisis, obtendremos unas conclusiones que nos servirán para el diseño y posterior desarrollo del assessment. Diseño: Realización de un diseño de alto nivel y un diseño detallado del assessment. El diseño comprenderá desde el escenario y cuidado de la interfaz, hasta los diagramas de secuencia que compone la interaccción usuario-sistema y sistema interno, pasando por el escenario general de uso del assessment. Estudio Económico: Definición de las tareas, tanto planificadas como real. Realización de WBS (diagrama de tareas), costos. También realizaremos el Cálculo del Valor Ganado, gráfico que nos mostrará en términos de coste planificado el trabajo realizado. Debido a la dificultad y al tiempo que nos ha llevado tanto la recopilación de los datos para el estudio como el análisis de los datos, así como el completo diseño, el tutor del proyecto decidió no implementar la herramienta, por lo que el Proyecto se compodrá de las tareas anteriormente descritas.Ingeniería Técnica en Informática de Gestió

Analysis of Decision Support Systems of Industrial Relevance: Application Potential of Fuzzy and Grey Set Theories

The present work articulates few case empirical studies on decision making in industrial context. Development of variety of Decision Support System (DSS) under uncertainty and vague information is attempted herein. The study emphases on five important decision making domains where effective decision making may surely enhance overall performance of the organization. The focused territories of this work are i) robot selection, ii) g-resilient supplier selection, iii) third party logistics (3PL) service provider selection, iv) assessment of supply chain’s g-resilient index and v) risk assessment in e-commerce exercises. Firstly, decision support systems in relation to robot selection are conceptualized through adaptation to fuzzy set theory in integration with TODIM and PROMETHEE approach, Grey set theory is also found useful in this regard; and is combined with TODIM approach to identify the best robot alternative. In this work, an attempt is also made to tackle subjective (qualitative) and objective (quantitative) evaluation information simultaneously, towards effective decision making. Supplier selection is a key strategic concern for the large-scale organizations. In view of this, a novel decision support framework is proposed to address g-resilient (green and resilient) supplier selection issues. Green capability of suppliers’ ensures the pollution free operation; while, resiliency deals with unexpected system disruptions. A comparative analysis of the results is also carried out by applying well-known decision making approaches like Fuzzy- TOPSIS and Fuzzy-VIKOR. In relation to 3PL service provider selection, this dissertation proposes a novel ‘Dominance- Based’ model in combination with grey set theory to deal with 3PL provider selection, considering linguistic preferences of the Decision-Makers (DMs). An empirical case study is articulated to demonstrate application potential of the proposed model. The results, obtained thereof, have been compared to that of grey-TOPSIS approach. Another part of this dissertation is to provide an integrated framework in order to assess gresilient (ecosilient) performance of the supply chain of a case automotive company. The overall g-resilient supply chain performance is determined by computing a unique ecosilient (g-resilient) index. The concepts of Fuzzy Performance Importance Index (FPII) along with Degree of Similarity (DOS) (obtained from fuzzy set theory) are applied to rank different gresilient criteria in accordance to their current status of performance. The study is further extended to analyze, and thereby, to mitigate various risk factors (risk sources) involved in e-commerce exercises. A total forty eight major e-commerce risks are recognized and evaluated in a decision making perspective by utilizing the knowledge acquired from the fuzzy set theory. Risk is evaluated as a product of two risk quantifying parameters viz. (i) Likelihood of occurrence and, (ii) Impact. Aforesaid two risk quantifying parameters are assessed in a subjective manner (linguistic human judgment), rather than exploring probabilistic approach of risk analysis. The ‘crisp risk extent’ corresponding to various risk factors are figured out through the proposed fuzzy risk analysis approach. The risk factor possessing high ‘crisp risk extent’ score is said be more critical for the current problem context (toward e-commerce success). Risks are now categorized into different levels of severity (adverse consequences) (i.e. negligible, minor, marginal, critical and catastrophic). Amongst forty eight risk sources, top five risk sources which are supposed to adversely affect the company’s e-commerce performance are recognized through such categorization. The overall risk extent is determined by aggregating individual risks (under ‘critical’ level of severity) using Fuzzy Inference System (FIS). Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) is then used to obtain structural relationship amongst aforementioned five risk sources. An appropriate action requirement plan is also suggested, to control and minimize risks associated with e-commerce exercises