Risk assessment in research projects

Abstract

The industry for renewable energy like windpower is requesting equipment with low failures and a high reliability over quite a long time period. This is especially important for offshore wind parks as maintenance is challenging. Approaches are necessary to fulfill these requests for less failures and higer reliability without cost explosion. The earlier in the product development process reliability and risk assessment is performed, the easier and cheaper is a design improvement. Therefore, it is important to include risk assessment already in research and predevelopment projects. For a good risk assessment structured methods are necessary. Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) and Design Review Based on Failure Mode (DRBFM) are discussed, experiences are shared, and adapations are shown how FMEA and DRBFM can be a used in a creative and structured way in research projects.