BS 5760-18:2010 Reliability of systems, equipment and components. Guide to the demonstration of dependability requirements. The dependability case
Dependability is a vital performance characteristic and will help your business ensure systems are reliable and performing effectively.
A dependability case provides a convenient and convincing means of recording and presenting dependability performance. It is supported by evidence that the necessary dependability performance has been or will be achieved.
The dependability performance of a system depends on all aspects of that system, including:
• Components
• Processes
• Hardware
• Software
• People
• Interfaces.
A company strategy needs to be flexible in its approach to providing progressive dependability assurance. The results of dependability activities need to be reviewed against the dependability requirements and the dependability programme modified as necessary. In particular:
a) The dependability requirements of the purchaser need to be understood by the purchaser and supplier
b) A programme of activities needs to be planned and implemented to satisfy the requirements and investigate the risks
c) The purchaser needs assurance that the dependability requirements are being, or will be, satisfied and that confidence in the dependability is increasing over the course of the programme.
BS 5760-18 provides the purchaser and suppliers with guidance on how to manage the dependability case. It also provides guidance on assessing and judging the adequacy of the outputs from dependability methods used in the programme.
BS 5760-18 provides a description of the principles of the dependability case and provides guidance on its content and application in systems engineering. The dependability case can be used throughout the life cycle, from concept and definition, through design and development; manufacture and installation, to operations and maintenance; mid-life enhancement and disposal.
BS 5760-18 is mainly for system developers but it will also be of value to people who might be contracted to manage the dependability case for a specific project.
BS 5760-18 has five main clauses which describe:
a) Principles of the dependability case
b) Development of the dependability case
c) Providing the evidence
d) Presenting the evidence
e) Assessing the adequacy of the evidence.
The activities required for the achievement of dependability depend on the nature and development state of the system. They are likely to vary significantly from one project to another.
Safety is not directly considered in this guide however BS 5760-18 can be applied to the production of safety cases.
Contents of BS 5760-18:
Foreword
Introduction
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Purpose and description of the dependability case
5 Principles of the dependability case
6 Development of the dependability case
7 Providing the evidence
8 Presenting evidence
9 Assessing the adequacy of evidence
Annexes
Annex A (informative) General requirements for the dependability case and dependability case report
Annex B (informative) Examples of dependability management risks at the different stages of a systems life cycle
Annex C (informative) Checklist of points for assessing the adequacy of evidence
Annex D (informative) Dependability risk reduction process
Annex E (informative) Dependability case evidence framework
Bibliography
List of figures
