2. Functional analysis methods associated with tools

2.1 Role and objectives

The systematic and exhaustive nature of functional analysis methods provides a formal guarantee for breaking down an industrial plant into the functional and material levels needed to identify failure modes and their consequences on the operational objectives set for the plant or equipment concerned.

Functional analysis consists in identifying, characterizing, ordering, prioritizing and, if necessary, adding value to functions.

Functional analysis methods enable :

• during the design phase, to describe a user's needs in terms of functions, while abstracting from the solutions for realizing them;

• for existing equipment, describe its...