​Rigorous System Development

Key elements of functional safety system design include:

Risk Assessment:
The first step is to identify and assess potential risks associated with the system. This involves analysing how failures could impact safety, the likelihood of such failures, and the severity of their consequences.

Hazard Analysis:
This involves identifying potential hazards and assessing the risks associated with a system or process. Common methods include Hazard and Operability Studies (HAZOP), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA).

Safety Requirements Specification:
Defining clear safety goals and requirements for the system, which are often specified in terms of specific safety performance levels (SIL – Safety Integrity Level, or ASIL – Automotive Safety Integrity Level).

Safety Architecture:
Design the system’s architecture with redundancy and diversity to ensure that even if a component fails or an error occurs, the system can still operate safely. This may involve using redundant sensors, actuators, or processing units.

Functional Safety Measures:
Implement safety mechanisms, such as safety interlocks, alarms, and shutdown procedures, to maintain safe system operation. These measures should detect and react to faults or failures.

Safety Verification and Validation:
We thoroughly test the system to ensure it complies with safety requirements. This includes hardware testing, software verification, and validation against the established safety goals.

Safety Documentation:
We provide detailed documentation of the system’s design, risk assessments, testing procedures, and other relevant information. This documentation is often required for compliance and safety certification.

Functional Safety Standards:
We adhere to relevant functional safety standards specific to the application, including IEC 61508:2010 Functional Safety Of Electrical/Electronic/Programmable Electronic Safety-Related Systems, IEC 62061:2021 Safety integrity level, and ISO 13849:2015 Safety of Machinery — Safety-related parts of control systems, which provide guidelines and best practices for functional safety.

Functional Safety Lifecycle:
We follow a structured safety lifecycle, which typically includes phases like concept, design, implementation, testing, and operation, with safety considerations integrated at each step.

Change Management:
Establishing procedures for managing changes to the system throughout its lifecycle, ensuring that modifications do not compromise safety.

Continuous Improvement:
Establish a process for ongoing monitoring and assessment of the system’s safety performance. Periodic safety assessments and audits help identify and address potential issues.

Maintenance and Monitoring:
Developing plans for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the system’s continued safety and reliability.