Forensic Systems Engineering

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.

William A. Stimson, PhD, is an independent consultant in systems engineering, and an expert witness for the Department of Justice and private law firms in evaluation of contractor performance. He has taken an active role in developing legal strategy for the evaluation of performance of operations in litigation, presented on the topic of forensic evaluation, and published peer-reviewed papers on dysfunctional processes.