Failure Taxonomy

This taxonomy categorizes failures by decision origin, not by symptom.

It is intentionally non-exhaustive.

Assumption Failures

• Load, environment, or usage assumed but not validated
• Edge conditions dismissed as unlikely
• Supplier capability inferred, not confirmed

Translation Failures

• Drawings interpreted differently across organizations
• Requirements that are correct in text but impossible in practice
• Digital models treated as physical truth

Interface Failures

• Responsibility boundaries unclear
• Mechanical, electrical, or process interfaces under-specified
• "Handled later" decisions that never are

Temporal Failures

• Sequence dependencies ignored
• Validation scheduled after commitment
• Learning expected after scale

These failures are not execution mistakes. They are consequences of decisions made without sufficient readiness.