Production Plant Safety Assessment for Modular Configuration Changes

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safety assessment procedures for production systems are time-consuming and require high levels of personal expertise, making it difficult to efficiently evaluate system changes and ensure compliance with safety standards.

Innovation Solution

A software-based procedure for safety assessment that collects and analyzes system model data, process data, and environmental data to automatically evaluate the safety level of production systems, particularly in versatile and customizable production systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional safety assessment procedures are used, then safety evaluation can be performed, but the process is time-consuming and requires high levels of personal expertise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety assessment accuracyVSAvoidassessment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual safety assessment procedures with an automated software-based system that collects system model data, process data, and environmental data to automatically evaluate safety levels. This substitution eliminates the need for extensive human expertise and significantly reduces assessment time while maintaining reliability through systematic data analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The safety assessment system enables the production system to self-evaluate its own safety level by automatically collecting and analyzing relevant data. The system performs self-assessment without requiring external expert intervention, thereby reducing time loss and enabling continuous safety monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If traditional safety assessment procedures are used, then safety evaluation can be performed, but extensive personal involvement is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety assessment accuracyVSAvoidassessment system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex manual assessment procedures with an automated software system that systematically collects and analyzes data. This substitution reduces the need for personal involvement while maintaining assessment accuracy through structured data processing algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital replica of the production system through system model data that mirrors the actual system's structure and behavior. This digital copy enables automated safety evaluation without requiring physical inspection or extensive human involvement in the assessment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If production systems are made versatile and customizable with interchangeable modules, then adaptability is improved, but safety assessment becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem configurabilityVSAvoidsafety evaluation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains a digital model that replicates the configurable production system's structure and behavior. This digital copy automatically updates when system modules are changed, allowing safety assessment to keep pace with system adaptability without increasing evaluation difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The safety assessment system continuously monitors system model data, process data, and environmental data, providing real-time feedback on safety levels. When system configurations change, the system automatically re-evaluates safety, ensuring that adaptability does not compromise safety assessment capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3731043B1Safety assessment method, computer program, machine-readable storage medium, and safety assessment device
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3731043B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3731043B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3731043B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Method for the safety assessment of a production plant 1, wherein the production plant 1 has at least one plant module 2, 2', wherein the plant module 2, 2' is interchangeable and/or plant modules 2, 2' can be added, comprising the method steps: - collecting plant module data 8, process data 9 and/or environmental data 7 as collected data, - analyzing the collected data for the safety assessment of the present configuration, wherein, in the event of an exchange of the plant module 2, 2', an addition and/or removal of a plant module 2, 2' during an operation of the production plant 1, a safety assessment of the modified production plant 1 is automatically carried out by means of the method steps.