Conceptual Framework for an EffectiveDesign Culture for Safety Systems

ByWilliam (Bill) L. Mostia, Jr. PE

FellowSIS-TECH Solutions, LP.

Conceptual Framework for an EffectiveDesign Culture for Safety Systems

ByWilliam (Bill) L. Mostia, Jr. PE

FellowSIS-TECH Solutions, LP.

Copyright 2012 by W.L. Mostia,All rights reserved

Origins of the Paper

Credit: Image - http://vividvida.blogspot.com/2011/01/jhaneros-success-formula.html

So what does a conceptual framework looklike related to culture and how do I get one?

Culture, like many human structures, is fraughtwith invisible complexities and non-deterministicresponses which have puzzled psychologist andanthropologist alike over the years.

Conceptual Framework

Culture, like many human structures, is fraughtwith invisible complexities and non-deterministicresponses which have puzzled psychologist andanthropologist alike over the years.

One approach is to model an individual’s culturesimilar to an house or building. Where thesupports that hold up the house represent theprinciples that supports the conceptual framework.

Principles that people live by can be verycomplex but over the years some principleshave on the macro level been simplified orcodified into sets heuristic rules.Some examples potential support pillars that havebeen codified in society are:1. The Ten Commandments,2. The Seven Deadly Sins,3. The Boy Scout Code,4. Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues, and5. Gandhi’s Seven Deadly Social Sins.

Conceptual FrameworkPrinciples that people live by can be verycomplex but over the years some principleshave on the macro level been simplified orcodified into sets heuristic rules.Some examples potential support pillars that havebeen codified in society are:1. The Ten Commandments,2. The Seven Deadly Sins,3. The Boy Scout Code,4. Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues, and5. Gandhi’s Seven Deadly Social Sins.

To build our conceptual framework model forour design group, we need some buildingblocks in the form of principles for the designgroup to live by.Our model of the cultural conceptualframework consists of principles (supportpillars) codified into a set of heuristic rules.

Conceptual Framework

To build our conceptual framework model forour design group, we need some buildingblocks in the form of principles for the designgroup to live by.Our model of the cultural conceptualframework consists of principles (supportpillars) codified into a set of heuristic rules.

1. The Dupont RuleDon’t design anything that you wouldn’t betyour own life or family member’s on a 24-7basis. Because that is what you are askingthe people who will operate the process thatthe safety system will be installed on to bettheir life on, e.g. That the safety system willfunction when needed on 24/7 basis for thelife of your design. If you are not willing,don’t do it.

Heuristic Rules (Principles)

1. The Dupont RuleDon’t design anything that you wouldn’t betyour own life or family member’s on a 24-7basis. Because that is what you are askingthe people who will operate the process thatthe safety system will be installed on to bettheir life on, e.g. That the safety system willfunction when needed on 24/7 basis for thelife of your design. If you are not willing,don’t do it.

It seems that we don’t always have time todo it right the first time but we always seemhave time to do it over (typically onsomebody else’s nickel). With safetysystems we do not always have that luxury.If you don’t do it right the first time, will therebe an opportunity to do it over correctlybefore the safety system fails?

2. NASA Rule - Do it right the first time,every time.

It seems that we don’t always have time todo it right the first time but we always seemhave time to do it over (typically onsomebody else’s nickel). With safetysystems we do not always have that luxury.If you don’t do it right the first time, will therebe an opportunity to do it over correctlybefore the safety system fails?

This is about doing the right thing or makingthe right decision, not because it's easy,convenient, or panders to vested interests butbecause it's ethically correct.

3. Do the Right Thing -

This is about doing the right thing or makingthe right decision, not because it's easy,convenient, or panders to vested interests butbecause it's ethically correct.

4. Three Little Piggy Rule –

This rule is based on a metaphor from the children’sfairy tale where each of the three little pigs built ahouse (safety system) to protect themselves fromthe big bad wolf (the hazard) One was built ofstraw, one of wood, and one of brick with only thehouse of brick surviving the wolf.Ed Marszal once stated it succinctly, “When indoubt, build it stout!”

This rule is based on a metaphor from the children’sfairy tale where each of the three little pigs built ahouse (safety system) to protect themselves fromthe big bad wolf (the hazard) One was built ofstraw, one of wood, and one of brick with only thehouse of brick surviving the wolf.

Image Credit: emily @ http://www.bluecoat.gloucs.sch.uk/early-years/pre-school/news/865-blue-coat-pre-school-newsletter-march-2012

5. KISS

“Keep It Simple, Stupid” is a design principlethat was articulated by Kelly Johnson (1910-1990) of Lockheed Skunk Works fame.

“Keep It Simple, Stupid” is a design principlethat was articulated by Kelly Johnson (1910-1990) of Lockheed Skunk Works fame.

How do we really do this?

Competency, experience, andprofessionalism are the hallmarks andstrengths of this principle.

6. There is no substitute for knowingwhat you are doing -

7. FOLLOW THE STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS.

Standards and regulations (companystandards included too) is the minimum stateand not the maximum state. Meeting theminimum is an important principle but notdoes not mean you have designed aneffective safety system.

Standards and regulations (companystandards included too) is the minimum stateand not the maximum state. Meeting theminimum is an important principle but notdoes not mean you have designed aneffective safety system.

This is a matter of selection of instrumentation andthe use of design techniques to design a reliable,dependable system.

8. Selection of Safety System Technology

Being on the bleeding edge of technology or generallyeven on the leading edge increases the risk that thesystem will not function properly or as expected.

Being on the bleeding edge of technology or generallyeven on the leading edge increases the risk that thesystem will not function properly or as expected.

Safety and reliability are interlinked in safety systemdesign. While you can have a reliable system that isnot safe, you cannot have a safe system that is notreliable.

Safety system design typically involves a reliance onstatistics, failure distributions, and reliability calculationmodels. One should always understand the uncertaintiesand limitations of these calculations in the real world.

9. Calculations do not justify or proveanything

Paul Gruhn once said that “Statistics were like spies; if youtorture them enough, they’ll tell you anything.”

Do not let your tombstone read:“He calculated the corners and cut them withease to please till it collapsed one day to his

dismay on judgment day.”

If you can’t put it in writing that is clear,concise, and logical, you don’t understand it.

10. Compos Mentis (Sound Mind) Rule

A design must include consideration oflifecycle reliability, how it will be constructed(constructability), how it will be operated(operability) and how it will be maintained(maintainability), tested (testability), andsustained over the life of the system(sustainability).

11. Don’t Forget the “…abilities” –Reliability, Operability, Maintainability,

Sustainability, Constructability, & Testability

A design must include consideration oflifecycle reliability, how it will be constructed(constructability), how it will be operated(operability) and how it will be maintained(maintainability), tested (testability), andsustained over the life of the system(sustainability).

No team has been successfulwithout leadership and a designteam is no exception.

12. Leadership

Leadership is not synonymous with supervision ormanagement, though there are cases where theleadership comes from supervision ormanagement but at the atomic (lowest) level, it isindividual based.Leadership is the single most important determinatein the day to day organizational/ group climate [5]and in determining the long term direction,continuity, and consistency in a design group.

Leadership is not synonymous with supervision ormanagement, though there are cases where theleadership comes from supervision ormanagement but at the atomic (lowest) level, it isindividual based.

13. TANSTAAFL Principle - There Ain’t NoSuch Thing as A Free Lunch

A principle in the project management world, whichillustrates this, is that a project has three design elements– fast, good, or cheap, but you can only achieve two outof three of these elements.

The model consisted of Baker’s Dozen (13)principles that make up the structure of theconceptual framework which guides people’sactions and decisions regarding designingsafety systems.

Conclusions

What are your engineering designprinciples?

How do you make critical decisions?

What principles does your safetysystem design group use?

The model consisted of Baker’s Dozen (13)principles that make up the structure of theconceptual framework which guides people’sactions and decisions regarding designingsafety systems.

What are your engineering designprinciples?

How do you make critical decisions?

What principles does your safetysystem design group use?

We are proven in use.