Functional Safety: Safer Products and Market Advantages

Functional safety is the critical part of the overall safety of a product or system that depends on the correct execution of specific commands and functions. In the industrial manufacturing and automotive industries, where precision and safety are essential, adhering to functional safety standards continues to be a critical component of product development. Functional safety helps demonstrate that control systems operate as intended and reduces risk to personnel, assets, and the environment by analyzing systemic and random failures. These failures could occur in a system’s hardware, software, or the processes used to design and produce them.

OEMs often require certified products from their suppliers to demonstrate reliability, consistency, safety, and compliance with industry standards. By delivering certified products, their suppliers not only meet specifications and fulfill their contractual obligations, but they also enhance their reputation as reliable partners who are committed to delivering high-quality products with designed-in safety.

Independently certified products have undergone rigorous analysis and verification, reducing the risk of failures and enabling a smooth integration into their customers’ systems. Suppliers and OEMs might need certification to get a leg-up in the market over the competition. In some cases, suppliers might need independent certification just to enter the bidding process.

Confirming your products adhere to specific standards is not just a matter of checking a box. Industry regulations – like IEC 61508 for electrical, electronic, and programmable electronic safety-related systems, or ISO 26262 in the electrical/electronic controls for use in the automotive industry – help suppliers and OEMs demonstrate that their products function safely and reliably in order to use as stand-alone products or to incorporate in manufacturing applications.

We provide services that educate you on the applicable requirements and enable you to determine improvements to your products and the systems during the product development phase allowing suppliers and OEMs to demonstrate a higher level of safety in their industrial and automotive products. Our functional safety expertise extends across the world in markets that require it – for example, industrial automation, robotics, automotive, renewable energy, and even specific components – right down to microprocessors themselves.

We conduct comprehensive, independent reviews and assessments against required safety standards and product specifications. UL Solutions functional safety certifications provide evidence that our customers need to show that their processes and procedures were reviewed by an independent party and that the products were developed to the state-of-the-art standard. This helps instill added confidence in the minds of their customers and end users that their products are built with reliability and safety in mind. It also gives system integrators the ability to assemble systems that include a higher level of safety and reliability. With our on-line database of certifications, potential customers can verify for themselves products that meet the certification requirements.

We help bring clarity to functional safety processes, assessment and compliance. Our long history in advising, evaluating and certifying the functional safety aspects of products and systems across many industries enables us to help you successfully address functional safety challenges.

We serve the industrial functional safety community by actively participating in industrial standards writing for industrial, automotive, energy systems, process industry, machinery, robotics, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. We are active contributing members to the development of:

Functional safety certification goes beyond regulatory requirements and serves as a strategic advantage. It demonstrates a manufacturer's commitment to safety, reliability, consistency, and performance excellence. Certification can give you a competitive edge in the marketplace, enhancing your brand’s reputation and imparting confidence to your customers and end users.