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Volume 14, Issue 3 (Autumn 2024)
Disaster Prev. Manag. Know. 2024, 14(3): 374-391 |
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Saghehei E, Erfani V, Etesam M R. Identifying and Assessing the Risks of Failure in Relief Items Distribution During Natural Disasters in the Iranian Red Crescent Society. Disaster Prev. Manag. Know. 2024; 14 (3) :374-391
URL: http://dpmk.ir/article-1-670-en.html
URL: http://dpmk.ir/article-1-670-en.html
1- Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Technical and Engineering, Malayer Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hamadan, Iran.
2- Resilience in Accidents and Disasters Research Center, Iranian Red Crescent Society, Tehran, Iran.
3- Health Management in Mass Gatherings Research Center, Iranian Red Crescent Society, Tehran, Iran.
2- Resilience in Accidents and Disasters Research Center, Iranian Red Crescent Society, Tehran, Iran.
3- Health Management in Mass Gatherings Research Center, Iranian Red Crescent Society, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (4283 Views)
Background and objective Distribution of relief items is one of the special and important functions in response to natural disasters. The occurrence of significant deviations in distribution operations can increase the level of financial costs and loss of lives. This study aims to identify and assess the risks of failure in relief items distribution in the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS).
Method We used the failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) to identify and assess the risks. The distribution operation was divided into three main processes of crisis assessment, accident analysis and decision-making by the command system and distribution of relief items and the activities related to each process were specified. In addition to the process of identifying and assessing risks, various interviews were conducted with the rescue and relief experts of the IRCS regarding the issues and problems of the distribution of relief items. A list of the most important challenges in the process of distributing relief items was thus prepared.
Results For three processes, we identified 104 potential failures. After the implementation of the risk assessment phase, 20% of the identified risks were considered unacceptable. The consequences of about 80% of the risks were time delay, disruption in the distribution process and reworking of activities. Most of the proposed recommendations by experts were related to designing information systems for distribution operations with 25 iterations, highlighting the importance of mechanizing processes related to distribution operations and using new technologies.
Conclusion Due to the high level of identified risks, it can be concluded that the current control mechanisms in the IRCS are not effective and need serious revision. Designing information systems for managing distribution operations, preparing documents required for distribution operations, using new technologies such as rescue drones and tracking systems and assigning separate teams to distribute relief items are the most important recommendations proposed to control and reduce identified risks.
Method We used the failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) to identify and assess the risks. The distribution operation was divided into three main processes of crisis assessment, accident analysis and decision-making by the command system and distribution of relief items and the activities related to each process were specified. In addition to the process of identifying and assessing risks, various interviews were conducted with the rescue and relief experts of the IRCS regarding the issues and problems of the distribution of relief items. A list of the most important challenges in the process of distributing relief items was thus prepared.
Results For three processes, we identified 104 potential failures. After the implementation of the risk assessment phase, 20% of the identified risks were considered unacceptable. The consequences of about 80% of the risks were time delay, disruption in the distribution process and reworking of activities. Most of the proposed recommendations by experts were related to designing information systems for distribution operations with 25 iterations, highlighting the importance of mechanizing processes related to distribution operations and using new technologies.
Conclusion Due to the high level of identified risks, it can be concluded that the current control mechanisms in the IRCS are not effective and need serious revision. Designing information systems for managing distribution operations, preparing documents required for distribution operations, using new technologies such as rescue drones and tracking systems and assigning separate teams to distribute relief items are the most important recommendations proposed to control and reduce identified risks.
Keywords: Risk assessment, Relief items distribution, Humanitarian supply chain, Failure modes and effects analysis
Type of Study: Applicable |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2024/03/21 | Accepted: 2024/06/9 | ePublished: 2024/10/1
Received: 2024/03/21 | Accepted: 2024/06/9 | ePublished: 2024/10/1
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