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For catastrophic consequences, these failures are even extremely unlikely to the point that they have never occurred before.

The Dependability is the engineering discipline dedicated to failures. It encompasses a set of fields including Reliability (R), Availability (A), Maintainability (M) and Safety (S) of an entity (system, product, process, organization, etc.) to satisfy one or more required functions under given conditions.

The RAMS approach allows to define the system-level RAMS objectives based on user needs and acceptance criteria, to break down these objectives into RAMS requirements (including integrity levels) allocated to equipment and components, to implement these requirements at the design stage and to demonstrate their satisfaction at the validation stage.

It implements analytical techniques and methods to systematically assess and control the RAMS characteristics (including testability) of a product or system throughout its life cycle phases. RAMS studies are also applied in an optimization approach to reduce the overall system life cycle cost (LCC).

viattech Q&S relies on professional techniques adapted to sector specificities, analysis tools, the main standards and regulations in force to engage with its customers in a process of continuous improvement of the RAMS characteristics of their products, their systems and processes.

Through RAMS consulting services, our team of experts carries out a wide range of high value-added RAMS studies and risk management activities aimed at improving products, systems or processes. The results of these analyses are subject to acceptance by the end customer or by any other stakeholder in the program (infrastructure manager, operator, national safety authority, independent assessment body, etc.).

We also advise our clients at a strategic level on the optimal organization, processes and methods to implement to ensure compliance with regulatory and normative requirements applied to the sector in terms of dependability as well as proven in use best practices in that matter. This approach makes it possible in particular to support the operational teams of our customers in the supply of safety products and solutions which must meet strict objectives in terms of RAMS.

viattech Q&S has its own methodological sheets adapted to the specificities of each sector and based on the main standards such as MIL-STD-1629 (FMECA), MIL-HDBK-472 (maintainability study), NF EN 16271 (functional specifications, functional analysis), IEC 61508 (determination of SIL requirements), MIL-HDBK-217 F and IEC 62380 (reliability prediction calculations), IEC 1025 (fault tree analysis), IEC 1078 (reliability block diagram analysis).

Our engineers trained in these methods are prepared to deploy the various RAMS analyses and probabilistic risk assessments specific to each technology (APR, HazOp, FMECA, Fault Tree, Event Tree, Reliability Block Diagram, Markov diagram, accident sequence analysis, Petri network etc.).

The methods are reviewed on the basis of our experiences gained during previous missions in order to improve their efficiency and to enlarge their spectrum of application.

A product or system performing safety-critical functions or requiring high reliability is developed following a structured engineering process while taking into account the RAMS requirements.

The RAMS management is therefore a key element in any organization whose objective is to meet ambitious requirements in terms of RAMS by ensuring that the technical and managerial measures are put in place and allow the identification and elimination of the systematic error causes that are likely to occur at every step of the engineering process.

To meet this target, viattech Q&S supports its customers by providing various consulting services in the RAMS management built on the basis of a system engineering approach:

• Support of our clients in setting up an effective organization, a culture of safety and a development process in order to achieve the RAMS objectives
• Development of RAMS plan and Verification & Validation plan necessary for the planning of activities to achieve the RAMS objectives
• Verification that the planned design, verification and testing activities allow the elimination of systematic errors (safety failures) and the reduction of residual risks to a tolerable level
• Management of the Hazards Log in which each identified risk is traced, analyzed and mitigated, or even eliminated, before the product is delivered or the system is put into service
• Development of safety cases in order to obtain a certification and/or RAMS approval in accordance with applicable standards (national, European and international)

By offering a full set of services, our approach is to promote continuous improvement of the safety and quality management system of our customers.

Our engineers draw up project plans and set up the organization, processes, methods and tools necessary for the control of the work in accordance with the requirements of the specifications established by the Client. The roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder are clarified from the start.

The intervention covers the various project life cycle phases, from the development of functional, RAMS and technical specifications to the commissioning of the industrial installation while strictly respecting deadlines and budget.

viattech Q&S can also intervene in specific activities requiring particular technical expertise such as the implementation of RAMS studies necessary to demonstrate the achievement of the RAMS objectives of the specifications.

When the complexity of the installation justifies it, our support services are provided by pragmatically applying system engineering methods and best practices. viattech Q&S also offers to its customers the opportunity to manage the engineering activities and the field work by coordinating multi-disciplinary teams and setting up rigorous progress monitoring indicators.

Our engineers start by carrying out an inventory of the existing installation in order to capture the elements relevant to the studies of the new system (collection and analysis of plans and technical documents, functional analysis, risk acceptance criteria development, inspections of the installation and its performance, review of operating and maintenance procedures, etc.).

Based on available maintenance data, a Life Cycle Cost (LCC) model is proposed to assess the overall cost of maintaining the existing installation and thus to have a basis for comparison with the solutions considered in the pre-project.

We develop the various options for the installations renewal based on a Business Case which consists of analyzing and defining the best quality, dependability and cost ratio in order to meet the functional requirements of the operation. This technical and economic study results in a proposal of technological choices to be made for the renewal.

Based on the operational master plan, viattech Q&S draws up a functional and architectural concept of the new system as well as a preliminary risk analysis intended to determine the RAMS objectives and the integrity levels of any safety functions of the system to be implemented.

Then, based on the technological choices made beforehand, we conduct a technical feasibility study of the systems to be developed to meet the functional concept and safety integrity levels. At this stage, we have a precise idea of ​​the equipment that will be subject to the specifications, the installation and operating conditions, the constraints related to the maintenance & ILS as well as the overall cost of investment and maintenance.

Once the feasibility study has been validated by our customer, we proceed to the preparation of the specifications documents. This phase includes the preparation of plans giving an indication of the works and supplies to be carried out, the establishment of the functional, RAMS, technical and ILS specifications to be respected, the quantities of works and supplies preparation, the costs estimation and general work planning.

We assist the customer with the market survey, the comparative analysis of the bidders offers and the delivery of a report issuing a reasoned opinion on the successful tenderers designation.

Our engineers help in monitoring the project execution and in the technical and budgetary validation until the complete production and the temporary acceptance of the installation.

During this phase, we carry out a technical inspection of all files, plans, specifications, calculation notes and other documents produced by the company. We participate in the technical and work execution monitoring meetings and we take care of the preparation and distribution of the corresponding meetings reports. This monitoring also includes controlling the schedule, updating the site progress indicators and identifying the need for any significant changes in the scope of the project.

In our mission, viattech Q&S ensures the inspection of the test plans and their implementation by the company in anticipation of the technical acceptances carried out in the presence of the client-side managers in charge of the system acceptance.

When the need justifies it, our mission also covers the follow-up of the regulatory inspection and the certification of the new installation with a view to commissioning.