Episode 222: When Things Break, the Real Work Begins: Professor James Dwan on the Science of Failure

Most people only hear about forensic engineering when something has already gone wrong. A structure fails. A component breaks. A business is left looking for answers. That is where Professor James Dwan of Dwan Forensic Engineering comes in.

On this episode of AIBF Business Talk, Elaine Carroll sits down with James Dwan to explore the world of forensic engineering and the role it plays in helping businesses understand failure, reduce risk and protect what they have built.

James describes forensic engineering in simple terms as the study of “things that break.” But as he explains, the real work goes much deeper than spotting damage. It is about finding the root cause. Or in his words, “It’s absolutely detective work and detail, fine detail.”

That detective work matters. Across industries, failure can bring much more than physical damage. It can mean downtime, reputational damage, legal exposure and serious pressure on operations. As James points out, businesses often need answers urgently, especially when customers, regulators or internal teams are all asking the same question: what went wrong.

What makes his approach stand out is the focus on going beyond the obvious. He explains that many reports stop too early. “It failed by fatigue” may describe the problem, but not the reason behind it - that’s the question that companies really need answered.

The episode also highlights the value of independent thinking. In legal cases, James is clear that his role is not to defend one side, but to present the facts honestly and clearly. That objectivity is central to his work and to the trust placed in his expertise.

This is a fascinating conversation about problem-solving, truth and the small details that often reveal the biggest answers. 

Or as James puts it, “You’ve got to chase the small things.”

Catch the full conversation now and share the episode with someone who loves insight, detail and real-world problem-solving.