Published: 26 June 2023

Internal risk assessment of whole process engineering consulting consortium based on GRA-TOPSIS-FMEA

Jinjian Du1
Jianyu Chu2
1, 2College of Civil and Architectural Engineering, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, China
Corresponding Author:
Jianyu Chu
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Abstract

In order to select key risk factors, effectively control risks, and promote the smooth development of the whole process of engineering consulting consortium, Based on WBS-RBS risk identification in the whole process of engineering consulting, this paper introduces FMEA model, applies rough set and binary semantics to evaluate risk from multiple dimensions of occurrence, severity and difficulty to detect, and uses G1-improved CRITIC to calculate the comprehensive weight of risk evaluation factors, and then severity is revised based on DEMATEL. The GRA-TOPSIS model is constructed for risk ranking. Finally, the model is applied to a road network project and the analysis shows that communication and coordination risk, termination risk and schedule risk are the key risks. The model is suitable for risk assessment in the joint body and provides a feasible method for risk control in the whole process of engineering consulting consortia.

Internal risk assessment of whole process engineering consulting consortium based on GRA-TOPSIS-FMEA

Highlights

  • Binary semantics and rough sets are used to deal with evaluation semantics, which solves the problem that evaluation granularity is inconsistent and difficult to quantify.
  • The hesitancy fuzzy DEMATEL was applied to modify the risk severity, and the correlation of risk factors was considered.
  • GRA-TOPSIS was used to solve the problem that TOPSIS method could not reflect the dynamic change of evaluation index sequence.

1. Introduction

At present, the engineering consulting industry is dominated by many small and medium-sized companies, and the whole process of engineering consulting business is mainly carried out in the form of a consortium. When carrying out the whole-process engineering consulting business in the form of a consortium, effective risk control is extremely critical [1]. Scientific risk assessment is the basis of risk management and control. Key risk factors are selected scientifically, and through mechanism analysis, risks can be prevented and Probability of risk occurrence can be reduced [2]. In the existing risk assessment studies, Y. R. Du [3] and Q. Zhang [4] respectively applied AHP fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method and CIM-AHP to assess the overall risk of the whole process of engineering consulting. This kind of method is simple and feasible, but the evaluation method is subjective. M. Wang calculated the weight of risk indicator based on the improved AHP-CRITIC method, and introduced MARCOS method to sort risk [5]. Y. G. He used G1-entropy weight method to calculate the weight of risk indicators and applied cloud model to evaluate the level of power security risk [6]. R. P. Chen improved TOPSIS model based on FAHP-interval number to evaluate construction safety risk [7]. Although this kind of method is objective, the risk evaluation dimension is single. L. Wei applied CSA-BP neural network algorithm to evaluate construction risk [8]. Y. T. Huang calculated index correlation weights based on ANP and used SSA-BP model to assess schedule risks [9]. This kind of evaluation method is objective, but the required data breadth is large and the evaluation system is unstable. J. X. You [10] and X. D. Shi [11] proposed to introduce FMEA model to assess risk from multiple dimensions of occurrence, severity and detection. Binary semantics and trigonometric fuzzy function quantization semantics were used respectively. Grey correlation and TOPSIS model were used to sort risks and select key risk factors. Through the analysis of the above literature, it can be seen that the current risk assessment model has some problems, such as subjective assessment process, single evaluation dimension, unstable risk assessment system and weak operability. FMEA failure mode and impact analysis is a multi-dimensional analysis model with practicability and maneuverability. By introducing FMEA model and improving it through various algorithms, an effective whole-process engineering consulting joint in vivo risk assessment model can be built.

After the comprehensive identification of risk factors, the FMEA model was introduced in this study, and the FMEA model was improved from the perspective of scientific quantitative evaluation semantics, consideration of evaluation factors and expert weights, and risk factor correlation. GRA-TOPSIS-FMEA model was adopted to evaluate the risk of the whole process of engineering consulting consortium, and the key risk factors were selected reasonably.

2. Risk identification of whole process engineering consulting consortium based on WBS-RBS

In the analysis of WBS, the whole life working cycle is divided into investment decision stage, project construction preparation stage, project construction stage, project operation and maintenance stage. In the RBS analysis, risk factors were divided from macro, microcosmic and medium-micro perspectives.

Based on the “Whole-process Engineering Consulting Contract Model Text” and “Whole-Process Engineering Consulting Standard of Construction Projects” and expert evaluation, the work flow and risk factors at each stage were analyzed, the WBS-RBS risk identification coupling matrix was constructed to identify the risks at different stages and realize the comprehensive identification of risk factors in the whole-process engineering consulting consortium.

2.1. Based on WBS, the whole process of engineering consulting workflow is decomposed

Each stage of the whole process of engineering consulting is decomposed, as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1Based on WBS whole-process engineering consulting work breakdown

Based on WBS whole-process engineering consulting work breakdown

2.2. Based on RBS, the whole process of engineering consulting consortium internal risk analysis

Risk factors in the whole process of engineering consulting association were divided from macro, microcosmic and medium-micro perspectives, as shown in Fig. 2.

2.3. The WBS-RBS coupling matrix was constructed to identify the risk factors

Industry experts were invited to construct the WBS-RBS coupling matrix, and the list of risk factors in the whole process of engineering consulting association was determined, as shown in Table 1.

Fig. 2Combined internal risk analysis based on RBS whole process engineering consulting

Combined internal risk analysis based on RBS whole process engineering consulting

Table 1WBS-RBS coupling matrix

WBS
RBS
R1
R2
Rn
W1
d11
d12
d1n
W2
d21
d22
d2n
Wm
dm1
dm2
dmn

3. Risk assessment model based on GRA-TOPSIS-FMEA

FMEA (failure mode and consequence analysis) model was introduced to evaluate the risk occurrence probability (occurrence degree O), the damage degree of risk to the project (severity S), and the difficulty degree of risk detection (difficulty degree D).

The traditional FMEA model is difficult to quantify the semantics of risk assessment. Evaluation experts and risk assessment factor weights are not considered; Different combinations of risk factors may have the same RPN value, but different hidden risks. The core idea of this model is as follows: DEMATEL model was used to revise severity S, G1-Improvement CRITIC was applied to obtain subjective and objective weight of risk evaluation factors, comprehensive weight was determined based on minimum distance difference, and risk ranking was obtained by GRA-TOPSIS. The specific process is shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3The whole process of engineering consulting combined with the internal risk assessment process

The whole process of engineering consulting combined with the internal risk assessment process

3.1. Quantitative evaluation semantics based on fuzzy hesitation set

Binary semantics is a semantic quantization method, First let the fuzzy hesitation set be S=Sii=0,1,2l, in which l is an even number:

1
-1Hθ=f,,l.

In order to maintain the integrity of information, it is difficult to quantify the problem of inconsistent evaluation granularity. The evaluation information is discretized based on rough set, and the lower limit and upper limit of the interval are determined according to the evaluation data. The range of objects is R=C1,C2Cn, and sort all objects, for CiR (1in),

The lower approximation domain of Ci is defined as:

2
Apr_Ci=UYUR(Y)Ci.

The upper approximation domain of Ci is defined as:

3
Apr¯Ci=UYUR(Y)Ci.

Lim_Ci and Lim¯Ci are respectively the lower limit and upper limit of Ci, They are defined as:

4
Lim_Ci=1MLRY|YApr_Ci,Lim¯Ci=1MURY|YApr_Ci.

Rough set transforms -1(HL(φi)) into a set of interval numbers, According to the expert to distinguish different levels corresponding weights, using the method of weighted arithmetic mean as the -1(HL(φi)) into as interval Numbers -1HLφi=Ni_,Ni¯. The expert weight is calculated as follows:

5
Qi=Zi+Gi+Sii=1n(Zi+Gi+Si),

where Zi is the qualification level of the expert, Gi is the work experience, Si is the project familiarity.

3.2. Correction for risk severity based on fuzzy DELTATE

In the whole process of engineering consulting association, the interaction between risk factors is complicated, which greatly affects the stability of the risk assessment system. Therefore, fuzzy DELTATE model is introduced to analyze the risk correlation, and the specific calculation steps are as follows.

3.2.1. The fuzzy interval type correlation matrix is constructed

According to the 7-particle evaluation word order, experts were invited to evaluate the interaction between the identified risk factors. Fuzzy hesitation level was applied to quantify the evaluation semantics, and maximum value method was used to normalize it. The normalized correlation matrix is shown as follows:

6
GXi=0x1jxi10.

3.2.2. Calculate the comprehensive influence matrix

The solution formula is as follows. Where I is the identity matrix:

7
-1(Y)= -1x×I--1x-1.

3.2.3. Determine the net impact of risk factors

As matrix to -1(Y), the i row are defined as ji, the m column are defined as km, ji represents the impact of FMi risk pattern, km represents the impact of FMi risk pattern. Among them, ji-km expresses the net impact degree of FMi risk model. On the whole, the larger the value, the more important to the risk [12]. Therefore, the net impact value of risk factors has a greater correlation with the importance degree of risk factors. ji and km are normalized respectively. Get ji and km risk model corrected by the changes in the DEMATEL. The calculation formula is as follows:

8
siλ=si+jiλ-kmλ,

where si is the average of the upper and lower limits of the evaluation information.

3.3. Risk evaluation factor weight based on G1-CRITIC combination weight evaluation

3.3.1. G1 sequence method

Step 1: According to the importance of evaluation indicators, experts are invited to evaluate and the sequence relationship of each evaluation indicator is finally written as X1>X2>X3>>Xn.

Step 2: According to the importance degree between risk evaluation factors, inviting experts to evaluate the scale value rk. and according to Eqs. (9) and (10), getting the weight set of evaluation indicators w=(w1,w2,wn)T. The weight calculation method of each evaluation index is as follows:

9
Wk=1+k=2ni=knri-1,
10
WK-1=rkWk, k=n,n-1,,3,2.

3.3.2. Improve the CRITIC method

Improvement of traditional CRITIC method: since standard deviation cannot accurately measure the dimensional and order of magnitude variability between indicators, it can be measured by coefficient of variation instead. At the same time, considering the positive and negative correlation between indicators and correlation coefficient, the correlation coefficient is absolute value.

Firstly, the original evaluation matrix X was constructed, and each index in the evaluation matrix X was standardized according to Eq. (11), where Xj¯ and Sj are the sample mean and standard deviation respectively. The coefficient of variation of each index was calculated according to Eq. (12), and the Pearson correlation coefficient, rij was calculated. According to Eq. (13), the comprehensive coefficient of the independence degree of each index is obtained, and finally the weight of each index is determined according to Eq. (14):

11
Xij*=Xij-Xj¯Sj,
12
vj=Sjxj¯ ,
13
Cj=vjk=1n(1-|rij|),
14
ωj=Cjj=1nCj.

3.3.3. G1 method and improve the CRITIC method integrated empowerment

In order to reflect the influence of subjective and objective weight on the indicator system at the same time, the G1 method should be combined with the subjective and objective weight of improving CRITIC method, and the final vector is wk=αwk'+βwk''. The influence value of scheme J on adaptation factor K is known to be bjk, and the subjective and objective weighted attribute values are αbjkwk' and βbjkwk'. Solution can be determined the subjective weight value deviation degree dk=k=1t(αbjkwk'-βbjkwk'')2. Subjective and objective weights in order to ensure consistency, to ensure the minimum deviation degree, according to the Eq. (15) to calculate weight comprehensive [13]:

15
minZ=j=1nk=1t(αbjkwk'-βbjkwk')2,s.t. α+β=1, α,β0,wk=αwk'+βwk''.

3.4. Risk ranking was conducted based on GRA-TOPSIS

Step 1: Calculate a weighted decision matrix and get the positive and negative ideal solutions Y+=y1+,y2+,,yn+; Negative ideal solution Y-=y1-,y2-,,yn-.

Step 2: Computed Euclidean distance. The Euclidean distance from the value of the i failure mode to the positive and negative ideal solution is Di+and Di-:

16
Di+=j=1n(yij-yj+)2,
17
Di-=j=1n(yij-yj-)2.

Step 3: Calculate grey relational degree. On the basis of the weighted matrix of risk assessment, grey correlation coefficient of the positive ideal solution is ρij+. ε[0,1], usually ε=0.5:

18
ρij+=min1jnmin1im|yj+-yij|+εmax1jnmax1im|yj+-yij|yj+-yij+εmax1jnmax1im|yj+-yij|.

The grey correlation coefficient matrix between the evaluation value of the failure mode and the positive ideal solution is as follows:

19
pi+=ρ11+ρ1n+ρm1+ρmn+.

The gray correlation degree between the evaluation value of the I failure mode and the positive ideal solution is as follows:

20
pi+=j=13ωjρij+ , i=1,2,,m.

Similarly, the correlation values ρij- and pi- of the evaluated value of the failure mode and the negative ideal solution can be calculated.

Step 4: The dimensions of Euclidean distance and grey correlation degree are normalized:

21
mi=Mimax1im(Mi).

Step 5: Integrated Euclidean distance and grey relational degree:

22
Si+=α1di-+α2pi+,Si-=α1di++α2pi-,

where α1, α2 Reflects the degree of preference of decision makers, And α1=α2=0.5.

Step 6: Calculate relative closeness:

23
γi=Si+Si++Si-.

4. Case analysis

A road network project includes 15 individual projects such as road construction and transformation and industrial park construction and transformation. The total investment of the project is 290,794,630 yuan, among which the construction and installation cost is 103,585 million yuan. The construction period is 21 months. The project is carried out in the form of whole-process engineering consulting consortium, which is composed of three enterprises: A, B and C. Enterprise A is the project management unit and the guidance unit of the consortium, which is responsible for the overall management of the project, Unit B is responsible for the survey and design, and unit C is responsible for the cost consultation.

4.1. Based on WBS and RBS identification process engineering consulting risk factors

According to the above WBS-RBS analysis theory and the actual situation of the project, experts were invited to construct the coupling matrix, and the final list of risk factors identified was shown in Table 2.

4.2. Binary semantics and rough sets were used to evaluate each risk

Step 1: Three experts were invited to evaluate the identified 16 risk factors using a 7-granularity semantic set from the three dimensions of occurrence degree O, severity S, and difficulty detection degree D.

Step 2: Quantitative evaluation semantics.

Score and evaluate the level of experts. According to Eq. (5), the weight of each expert is Q1= 0.45, Q2= 0.33, Q3= 0.22, Based on binary semantics and rough sets, the fuzzy evaluation matrix is calculated by weighted expert weights, as shown in Table 3.

Table 2List of risk factors in the whole process engineering consultation consortium

Coding
Name of risk
Coding
Name of risk
Coding
Name of risk
FM1
Social risk
FM5
Construction safety risk
FM9
Termination risk
FM2
Natural risk
FM6
Cost risk
FM10
Benefit distribution risk
FM3
Economic risk
FM7
Quality risk
FM11
Communication and coordination risk
FM4
Member selection risk
FM8
Schedule risk

Table 3Fuzzy evaluation matrix

-1(HOi)
-1(HSi)
-1(HDi)
FM1
2.250
3.774
2.028
FM2
2.187
4.767
2.137
FM3
2.884
3.752
3.057
FM4
3.292
2.616
3.696
FM5
2.657
4.236
3.105
FM6
3.113
3.817
3.719
FM7
3.504
3.076
4.281
FM8
4.317
3.454
4.252
FM9
3.028
4.606
4.428
FM10
3.682
3.369
4.028
FM11
4.448
3.995
3.509

4.3. Based on the fuzzy DEMATEL hesitation to modify risk importance index

Experts were invited to evaluate the correlation of each risk factor. According to the formula in 3.2, MATLAB was used to calculate the correlation of each risk factor and the upper and lower limit net impact, as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 4Risk correlation analysis in whole process engineering consulting joint

Risk correlation analysis in whole process engineering consulting joint

4.4. The weight of risk assessment factors was determined based on the combination of G1-improved CRITIC

Step 1: G1 method was used to determine the subjective weight.

Invited three experts to sort and determine how important risk evaluation factors rk, According to Eq. (9) and (10), the subjective weight of each risk assessment factor is w1= (0.405, 0.363, 0.232).

Step 2: The improved CRITIC method is used to solve the objective weight of risk assessment factors.

Five experts were invited to evaluate the risk evaluation factors: risk occurrence probability O, risk damage degree S, and risk difficulty identification degree D, according to the Eq. (11) on the score normalization, according to the mentioned in 3.3.2 steps, using MATLAB to calculate the objective weight to risk evaluation factors are w2=(0.382, 0.282, 0.336).

Step 3: Determine the combined weights.

According to the Eq. (15) and the G1 method and improve the CRITIC for the subjective and objective weights, subjective and objective weight calculated by using LINGO of the optimal solution is α= 0.517, β=0.483, The final combined weight of risk assessment factors is w=αw1+βw2=(0.394, 0.324, 0.282).

4.5. Based on the GRA - TOPSIS to sort the risk factors

Step 1: After the risk severity is corrected, the weight of the evaluation risk factor is weighted to obtain the weighted standard evaluation matrix, and the positive and negative ideals are determined as: Yj+={1.753, 1.869, 1.249}, Yj-={0.862, 0.821, 0.572}.

Step 2: According to the Eqs. (16)-(23), the progress, γi and risk ranking are shown in Table 4.

Table 4Proximity ranking table based on GRA-TOPSIS

Risk
Degree of proximity γii
The sorting
Risk
Degree of proximity γii
The sorting
Risk
Degree of proximity γii
The sorting
FM1
0.4064
11
FM5
0.4528
9
FM9
0.5394
2
FM2
0.5109
4
FM6
0.4678
7
FM10
0.4916
5
FM3
0.4691
6
FM7
0.4673
8
FM11
0.5854
1
FM4
0.4507
10
FM8
0.5390
3

Step 3: Comparative analysis of risk factors sequencing between traditional FMEA and GRA-TOPSIS-FMEA.

Based on the evaluation data in Table 7, the upper and lower limits were averaged to obtain the importance of real evaluation matrix Ym×n without DEMTEL modification, and the traditional RPN was used to calculate the risk ranking A. GRA-TOPSIS-FMEA risk factor ranking B, the ranking results are shown in Fig. 5.

According to the GRA-TOPSIS-FMEA risk factor ranking results, the key risk factors in the whole process of the project consulting association are communication and coordination risk, termination risk, and schedule risk.

According to the comparative analysis between the TOPSIS-FMEA risk ranking in the improved interval and the traditional RPN method, it can be seen that the communication and coordination risk and termination risk rank higher in the GRA-TOPSIS-FMEA risk ranking, which is consistent with the actual project. Therefore, the improved algorithm is superior to the traditional FMEA algorithm in the risk assessment of the whole process of engineering consulting consortium. It can fully reflect the influence of various subjective and objective factors in the evaluation process and avoid sorting errors.

Fig. 5Risk assessment results for different algorithms

Risk assessment results for different algorithms

5. Conclusions

1) Binary semantics and rough sets are used to deal with evaluation semantics, which solves the problem that evaluation granularity is inconsistent and difficult to quantify, ensures the objectivity and fuzziness of evaluation information, and reduces the distortion of information. The G1 method and the improved CRITIC method are used to weight the combination of risk assessment factors, and the combination proportion is determined based on the minimum distance difference, which ensures the consistency of subjective and objective weighting, fully considers the subjective and objective factors, and reduces the information loss caused by single weighting.

2) The hesitancy fuzzy DEMATEL was applied to modify the risk severity, and the correlation of risk factors was considered, which made the evaluation model more stable. In risk ranking, GRA-TOPSIS was used to solve the problem that TOPSIS method could not reflect the dynamic change of evaluation index sequence, and overcome the problem caused by ranking only by calculating RPN.

3) Through the example verification, GRA-TOPSIS-FMEA can improve the accuracy and stability of the risk ranking for the whole process of engineering consulting combined with internal risk ranking, and has certain practical value. Although this study evaluates the risk factors in the whole process of engineering consulting, the evaluation factors are not detailed enough, and the detailed analysis of various risk factors is the focus of the next step.

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About this article

Received
30 May 2023
Accepted
21 June 2023
Published
26 June 2023
Keywords
whole-process consultation
risk ranking
FMEA
fuzzy evaluation
GRA-TOPSIS
Acknowledgements

This research was supported by National Science and Technology Support Program (2013BAJ10B09-2).

Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Author Contributions

Jinjian Du: data curation, formal analysis, investigation, methodology, project administration, software, visualization, writing-original draft preparation, writing-review and editing. Jianyu Chu: conceptualization, funding acquisition, supervision, validation.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.