The Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) has long empowered safety analysts, system engineers, and organizational researchers to capture the complex interplay of activities that constitute socio-technical processes. Yet, as FRAM models grow to encompass dozens or even hundreds of interlinked functions, users often face a dilemma: how to preserve the rich detail necessary for deep analysis without drowning in a sea of hexagons. The latest sandbox release of the FRAM Model Visualizer (FMV) addresses this challenge head-on by introducing a versatile “Grouping” facility that seamlessly bridges high-level overviews and granular drilldowns within a single canvas.
At its core, is now a “grouping” feature enables you to bundle together a set of lower level “child” functions under a single “parent” node. Imagine you are modeling the tyre-change pit stop of a Formula 1 car. Traditionally, you might represent the entire tyre removal as one function—“Remove Tyre”—linked to its predecessor and successor activities. However, reality is never so simple. Beneath that umbrella task lies a precise sequence of micro-actions: lifting the chassis, positioning the pneumatic wrench, engaging the wheel nut, and finally loosening it. By modeling each of those steps individually—with their own Inputs, Outputs, Preconditions, Resources, Controls, and Timing—you gain insight into where delays or resource shortages could ripple through the system.
The benefits of hierarchical grouping extend far beyond Formula 1 metaphors. In large healthcare networks, for instance, you might group all sub-functions of “Administer Medication”—from verifying patient identity and checking dosage to preparing the injection and disposing of sharps—under a single parent node. Logistics teams can collapse entire fleets of transport tasks into one macro-function, drilling down only when a delay demands it. Even in software development, you can bundle a suite of code-review activities or automated tests beneath a singular “Quality Assurance” label.
By enabling multi-scale modeling within a single, interactive environment, the FMV sandbox’s grouping facility solves a perennial pain point: balancing the need for detail with the clarity of a simplified overview. Users no longer choose between a sprawling tangle of functions or a shallow diagram that glosses over crucial steps. Instead, they gain dynamic control over their model’s granularity, effortlessly shifting focus as analysis demands. In doing so, the FRAM Model Visualizer reaffirms its position as the premier tool for capturing, simulating, and communicating the nuanced choreography of complex systems.