FRAM

The Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) has been developed by Professor Erik Hollnagel to provide system descriptions in functional - rather than structural - terms. The FRAM has been defined as a method-sine-model since it merely describes (rather than interprets) systems, allowing a prospective or retrospective analysis. It has been used largely alone, and more recently in combination with other methods/models for the analysis of sociotechnical systems (i.e. formed by social and technological components).

FRAM acknowledges that the ability of sociotechnical systems to perform acceptably, regardless of internal and external disturbances, depends heavily on variability, which it is not possible (or even convenient) to eliminate. However, sometimes it may happen that the variability of functions making up the system combine in particular conditions that trigger harmful emerging phenomena.

The variability’s signal emerging beyond a detectable threshold is called functional resonance in analogy with stochastic resonance, although functional resonance is not a completely random phenomenon.

More detailed information on the FRAM method can be found here.

We are conducting research on the applicability of the method to real applications in domains such as industrial operations, aviation, maritime operations, railway, healthcare.

FRAM is one of the tools of Resilience Engineering that we mainly cultivate; our lines of research about FRAM are directed to a progressive reformulation of the method in algebraic-quantitative terms but always with the aim of not trivializing it. Our research efforts aim to make FRAM a tool that adheres to the principles of simplexity, i.e. able to manage the entire complexity through a simple interface. We believe that this result can only be achieved through a careful use of Information Technology. Driven by this need, which has become awareness over time, we have developed myFRAM, an application released freely by the Sapienza research group in "Industrial Systems Engineering" to support the applicability of FRAM to complex sociotechnical systems.

Our recent outcome on this topic are:

  • Patriarca, R., Di Gravio, G., Costantino, F., (2017), A Monte Carlo evolution of the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) to assess performance variability in complex systems, Safety Science, Volume 91, Pages 49-60, ISSN 0925-7535, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2016.07.016
  • Patriarca, R., Di Gravio, G., Costantino, F., Tronci, M., (2017), The Functional Resonance Analysis Method for a systemic risk based environmental auditing in a sinter plant: A semi-quantitative approach, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Volume 63, Pages 72-86, ISSN 0195-9255, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2016.12.002.
  • Patriarca, R., Bergström, J., Di Gravio, G., (2017), Defining the functional resonance analysis space: Combining Abstraction Hierarchy and FRAM, Reliability Engineering & System Safety, Volume 165, Pages 34-46, ISSN 0951-8320, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ress.2017.03.032
  • Patriarca, R., Bergström, J., (2017). Modelling complexity in everyday operations: functional resonance in maritime mooring at quay, Cogn Tech Work, 19: 711. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-017-0426-2
  • Patriarca, R., Del Pinto, G., Di Gravio, G., Costantino, F., 2018. FRAM for Systemic Accident Analysis: A Matrix Representation of Functional Resonance, International Journal of Reliability, Quality and Safety Engineering, Vol. 25, No. 01, 1850001, https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218539318500018
  • Costantino, F., Di Gravio, G., Tronci, M., 2018. Environmental audit improvements in industrial systems through FRAM. 16th IFAC INCOM symposium, Bergamo (Italy), 11-13 June 2018.
  • Gattola, V., Patriarca R., Tomasi, G., Tronci, M., 2018. Functional resonance in industrial operations: a case study in a manufacturing plant. 16th IFAC INCOM symposium, Bergamo (Italy), 11-13 June 2018.
  • Patriarca, R., Di Gravio G., Costantino, F., 2018. myFRAM: an open tool to support FRAM. 12th FRAMily meeting and workshop, Cardiff (Wales), 11-13 June 2018.
  • Patriarca, R., Falegnami, A., Costantino, F., Bilotta, F., 2018. Resilience engineering for socio-technical risk analysis: Application in neuro-surgery, Reliability Engineering & System Safety, Volume 180, 2018, Pages 321-335, ISSN 0951-8320, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ress.2018.08.001.
  • Patriarca, R., Adriaensen, A., Peters, M., Putnam, J., Costantino, F., Di Gravio, G., 2019. Receipt and disptach of an aircraft. A functional risk analysis. 8th Resilience Engineering Association (REA) symposium. Kalmar (Sweden), 24-27 June 2019.
  • Falegnami, A., Costantino, F., Di Gravio, G. et al. 2019. Unveil key functions in socio-technical systems: mapping FRAM into a multilayer network, Cogn Tech Work, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-019-00612-0