Forensic Systems Engineering

Forensic Systems Engineering

by William A. Stimson
Released February 2018
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781119422754

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Book description

A systems-level approach to reducing liability through process improvement

Forensic Systems Analysis: Evaluating Operations by Discovery presents a systematic framework for uncovering and resolving problematic process failures. Carefully building the causal relationship from process to product, the discussion lays out in significant detail the appropriate and tactical approaches necessary to the pursuit of litigation with respect to corporate operations.

Systemic process failures are addressed by flipping process improvement models to study both improvement and failure, resulting in arguments and methodologies relevant to any product or service industry. Guidance on risk analysis of operations combines evaluation of process control, stability, capability, verification, validation, specification, product reliability, serial dependence, and more, providing a robust framework with which to target large-scale nonconforming products and services. 

Relevant to anyone involved in business, manufacturing, service, and control, this book:

  • Covers process liability and operations management from both engineering and legal perspectives
  • Offers analyses that present novel uses of traditional engineering methods concerning risk and product quality and reliability
  • Takes a rigorous approach to system tactics and constraints related to product and service operations and identifies dysfunctional processes
  • Offers both prescriptive and descriptive solutions to both the plaintiff and the defendant

The global economy has created an environment in which huge production volume, complex data bases, and multiple dispersed suppliers greatly challenge industrial operations. This informative guide provides a practical blueprint for uncovering problematic process failures.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Preface
    1. References
  4. 1 What Is Forensic Systems Engineering?
    1. 1.1 Systems and Systems Engineering
    2. 1.2 Forensic Systems Engineering
    3. References
  5. 2 Contracts, Specifications, and Standards
    1. 2.1 General
    2. 2.2 The Contract
    3. 2.3 Specifications
    4. 2.4 Standards
    5. Credits
    6. References
  6. 3 Management Systems
    1. 3.1 Management Standards
    2. 3.2 Effective Management Systems
    3. 3.3 Performance and Performance
    4. 3.4 Addendum
    5. Credits
    6. References
  7. 4 Performance Management
    1. 4.1 Background of ISO 9000
    2. 4.2 Form and Substance
    3. Credits
    4. References
  8. 5 The Materiality of Operations
    1. 5.1 Rationale for Financial Metrics
    2. 5.2 Mapping Operations to Finance
    3. Credits
    4. References
  9. 6 Process Liability
    1. 6.1 Theory of Process Liability
    2. 6.2 Process Liability and the Law
    3. Credits
    4. References
  10. 7 Forensic Analysis of Process Liability
    1. 7.1 Improper Manufacturing Operations
    2. 7.2 Management Responsibility
    3. References
  11. 8 Legal Trends to Process Liability
    1. 8.1 An Idea Whose Time Has Come
    2. 8.2 Some Court Actions Thus Far
    3. References
  12. 9 Process Stability and Capability
    1. 9.1 Process Stability
    2. 9.2 Process Capability
    3. 9.3 The Rare Event
    4. 9.4 Attribute Testing
    5. References
  13. 10 Forensic Issues in Product Reliability
    1. 10.1 Background in Product Reliability
    2. 10.2 Legal Issues in the Design of Reliability
    3. 10.3 Legal Issues in Measuring Reliability
    4. 10.4 Legal Issues in Testing for Reliability
    5. 10.5 When Product Reliability Is not in the Contract
    6. 10.6 Warranty and Reliability
    7. References
  14. 11 Forensic View of Internal Control
    1. 11.1 Internal Controls
    2. 11.2 Control Stability
    3. 11.3 Implementing Controls
    4. 11.4 Control of Operations
    5. References
  15. 12 Case Study
    1. 12.1 Background of the Case
    2. 12.2 Problem Description
    3. 12.3 Examining the Evidence
    4. 12.4 Depositions
    5. 12.5 Problem Analysis
    6. 12.6 Arriving at the Truth
    7. 12.7 Damages
    8. References
  16. 13 Examining Serially Dependent Processes
    1. 13.1 Serial Dependence: Causal Correlation
    2. 13.2 Properties of Serial Dependence
    3. 13.3 Serial Dependence: Noncausal Correlation
    4. 13.4 Forensic Systems Analysis
    5. Credits
    6. References
  17. 14 Measuring Operations
    1. 14.1 ISO 9000 as Internal Controls
    2. 14.2 QMS Characteristics
    3. 14.3 The QMS Forensic Model
    4. 14.4 The Forensic Lab and Operations
    5. 14.5 Conclusions
    6. Credits
    7. References
  18. 15 Stability Analysis of Dysfunctional Processes
    1. 15.1 Special Terms
    2. 15.2 Literature Review
    3. 15.3 Question Before the Law
    4. 15.4 Process Stability
    5. 15.5 Conclusions
    6. Credits
    7. References
  19. 16 Verification and Validation
    1. 16.1 Cause and Effect
    2. 16.2 What Is in a Name?
    3. 16.3 The Forensic View of Measurement
    4. References
  20. 17 Forensic Sampling of Internal Controls
    1. 17.1 Populations
    2. 17.2 Sampling Plan
    3. 17.3 Attribute Sampling
    4. 17.4 Forensic System Caveats
    5. References
  21. 18 Forensic Analysis of Supplier Control
    1. 18.1 Outsourcing
    2. 18.2 Supply Chain Management
    3. 18.3 Forensic Analysis of Supply Systems
    4. 18.4 Supplier Verification: A Case Study
    5. 18.5 Malfeasant Supply Systems
    6. References
  22. 19 Discovering System Nonconformity
    1. 19.1 Identifying Nonconformities
    2. 19.2 The Elements of Assessment
    3. 19.3 Forming Decisions
    4. 19.4 Describing Nonconformities
    5. 19.5 A Forensic View of Documented Information
    6. Acknowledgment
    7. References
  23. Appendix A: The Engineering Design Process
    1. A.1 Design and Development
    2. A.2 Forensic Analysis of the Design Process
    3. References
  24. Appendix B: Introduction to Product Reliability
    1. B.1 Reliability Characteristics
    2. B.2 Weibull Analysis
    3. B.3 Design for Reliability
    4. B.4 Measuring Reliability
    5. B.5 Testing for Reliability
    6. References
  25. Appendix C: Brief Review of Probability and Statistics
    1. C.1 Measures of Location
    2. C.2 Measures of Dispersion
    3. C.3 Distributions
    4. C.4 Tests of Hypotheses
    5. C.5 Ordered Statistics
    6. References
  26. Appendix D: Sampling of Internal Control Systems
    1. D.1 Populations
    2. D.2 Attribute Sampling
    3. D.3 Sampling Risks
    4. D.4 Sampling Analysis
    5. References
  27. Appendix E: Statistical Sampling Plans
    1. E.1 Fixed‐Size Attribute Sampling Plan
    2. E.2 Stop‐or‐Go Sampling
    3. E.3 One Hundred Percent Inspection
    4. E.4 Application: An Attribute Sampling Plan
    5. References
  28. Appendix F: Nonstatistical Sampling Plans
    1. F.1 Sampling Format
    2. F.2 Nonstatistical Estimations
    3. References
  29. Index
  30. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Forensic Systems Engineering
  • Author(s): William A. Stimson
  • Release date: February 2018
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9781119422754