**Abstract**

Complex industrial plants are characterized by digitalization and innovation. In this context it is strategic to ensure the systematic design, implementation, and continuous improvement of all processes (operations management). One of the most obvious ways to improve operations performance is to reduce the risk of accidents and human errors. In this pilot study the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) is proposed to analyze the complexity of safety in industrial plants. This research integrates FRAM with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multi criteria technique, to overcome the limits of the FRAM. The result is a proposal of an alternative approach to risk assessment based on principles of resilience engineering. A real case study in a petrochemical company is analyzed.

**Keywords:** AHP, FRAM, resilience engineering, performance variability, human error, operations management
