Reliability related concept comparison and derivation of a risk analysis in early design stages

The concept comparison method offers the opportunity of a systematic, comprehensive and reusable procedure to validate different concepts in an early design stage. The procedure enables (also for complex mechatronical concepts) a reliability related determination of the most developable concept. The method itself is subdivided into four work steps. After defining the system and concepts, the global system requirements and failure functions are determined. By describing the functionality of the individual concepts in the application and failure case together with the respective assessment, a concept comparison based on one single overall assessment number is enabled. The gathered information and evaluations provide the opportunity to derive a qualitative risk analysis or FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis). This offers a suitable usage of information for the further product design cycle.