ISO 26262 is an international standard that regulates functional safety in automotive electronics and electrical systems (E/E systems). It aims to minimise hazards from system malfunctions, so vehicles can operate safely under all conditions.
In this article, we’ll look in more depth at ISO 26262, including why you should ensure your automotive operations comply and how you can achieve compliance more easily. Let’s get started.
Benefits of ISO 26262
While there are no legal requirements to comply with ISO 26262 in any specific country, ISO 26262 has emerged as the industry standard for mitigating risks in complex automotive systems. Many OEMs and suppliers regard compliance as essential, while many leading European automakers will not do business with component manufacturers that don’t adhere. In this way, ISO 26262 has become the primary way to demonstrate credibility and customer trust in the industry.
Simply, when you comply with ISO 26262, you build safer vehicles. Following a robust safety process in auto construction reduces the risk of accidents resulting from system failures. Accidents can be dangerous to human life, but can also lead to legal and financial penalties. Governments across the globe are bringing in more stringent regulations around automotive safety. ISO 26262 is an effective framework to follow as you work towards compliance.
As technology becomes a greater and greater part of the automotive construction process, with electric vehicles, autonomous driving and other E/E capabilities, ISO 26262 has evolved to keep up. The last update, which happened in 2018, included new requirements for semiconductors and functional safety guidelines for autonomous driving.
Six crucial areas of ISO 26262
ISO 26262 is divided into 12 parts, covering various aspects of the automotive lifecycle, including management, hardware and software development, and production, ensuring a systematic approach to safety. Here are six crucial areas that are covered:
- Hazard analysis – Identifying potential hazards that could result from E/E system malfunctions. Hazards are graded for severity, exposure and controllability. Eventually, each component receives an Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL)
- Safety requirements – Defining specific safety levels that must be met in order to mitigate the hazards
- Development - ISO 26262 covers hardware and software development, including architectural design, coding and testing
- Verification – Systems are tested rigorously to ensure they meet the required safety levels, including validation exercises in real-world conditions
- Functional safety management - ISO 26262 addresses the human element of automotive safety by ensuring companies have the right management systems in place to ensure functional safety throughout the E/E lifecycle
- Monitoring – Once the E/E is deployed, ISO 26262 requires constant monitoring and updating to maintain safety standards
How Codebeamer smooths the path to ISO 26262 compliance
Codebeamer by PTC simplifies ISO 26262 compliance by automating documentation, ensuring traceability and providing preconfigured templates, helping manufacturers manage safety-critical systems effectively. With end-to-end management for lifecycle processes, from requirements capture and risk assessments to verification and future-proof auditing, Codebeamer helps reduce human error, keeps teams on the same page, and makes the ISO 26262 certification process a much smoother experience.
Boosting safety in the auto industry is a goal we all share. Codebeamer plays a valuable role in making this ambition a reality.
To find out more about Codebeamer, visit www.concurrent-engineering.co.uk/codebeamer.