Safety & Quality

In addition to the functional safety of a battery, quality factors such as durability and reliability are important requirements for a battery system.

Quality is paramount in our products and processes. Our development processes, our software, components used and thus our developed BMS and batteries meet the highest standards of functional safety.

To this end, we continuously invest in our processes, methods & tools and have ourselves certified on an ongoing basis.

Functional safety (FuSa)

With the large number of control devices in today’s applications, the functional safety of electronic systems plays a significant role. Functional safety means freedom from an unacceptable risk that can arise from hazards – caused by malfunctions of electrical or electronic systems. For many industries, guidelines and safety standards exist that contain specifications regarding the individual processes and the technical realization of functional safety.

A key standard to which we are certified is ISO 26262 for road vehicles, which was published in November 2011 as an industry-specific standard for functional safety based on the generic safety standard IEC 61508. However, we also work and develop according to the following guidelines and standards:

  • ISO 13849 Safety of machinery – Safety-related parts of control systems
  • ISO 26262 Road vehicles – Functional safety
  • DIN EN 50126 Railway applications – Specification and verification of reliability, availability, maintainability, safety
  • DIN EN 50128 Railway applications – Telecommunication, signalling and data processing systems – Software for railroad control and monitoring systems
  • DIN EN 50155 Railway applications – Electronic equipment on railroad vehicles
  • IEC 60730 Automatic electrical controls for household and similar use
  • IEC 61508 Functional safety of safety-related electrical/electronic/programmable electronic systems
  • IEC 61784-3-3 Industrial communication networks – Profiles – Part 3: Functionally safe transmission in fieldbuses – General rules and specifications for profiles
  • IEC 62061 Safety of machinery – Functional safety of safety-related electrical, electronic and programmable electronic control systems

As a service provider for functionally safe devices in battery, control and regulation technology, we know from our own developments the particularities of implementing the standards and help our customers to develop their products competitively and in accordance with the respective standard.

One goal two ways

Development project – The customized path to a safe product

  • Your application is classified
  • Joint identification of relevant laws, directives, regulations, standards and norms
  • Selection of suitable Futavis components and products (hardware & software)
  • Development of customized product

Application project – Safety off the shelf

  • Your application is classified
  • Joint identification of application-relevant laws, directives, regulations, standards and norms
  • Selection of suitable & certified products of Futavis
  • Software adaptation for parameter setting to the respective application case
  • Derivation of necessary documentation from existing standard documents

It all starts with identifying the scope of application. Each industry has its own standards landscape. Almost all standards are based on the so-called “nut standard” 61508. The derived standards differ in the range of applications covered.

Futavis is able to help you categorize your application and thus select and apply the relevant standards for you. Our FuSi experts can also advise you on the choice of certification and guide you through the process. Combined certifications are also possible thanks to our modular development processes and our in-depth understanding of standards; regardless of safety integrity (ASIL/SIL/PL).

In the next step you decide between the application of an existing Futavis product or the customized customer solution. The decision depends largely on whether your safety objectives and functional or normative requirements are in line with our safety concept (SEooC= Safety Element out of Context) and whether our degrees of freedom within the permitted parameterization meet your requirements.

Finally, our modular development processes allow individual composition of verification, validation and thus various documentation efforts up to the standard-compliant (certification-ready) package. You decide whether an accredited body is subsequently called in for the final certification process or whether you would like to audit us yourself. Both ways have been tried and tested at Futavis.

Cyber Security

In addition to functional safety, cybersecurity is now also becoming increasingly important in the development and production of electronic systems, particularly in the field of electromobility. Cybersecurity refers to the protection of electrical/electronic components and systems against unauthorized access and attacks.

Futavis works and develops according to the following standards to ensure the quality and security of its products in terms of cybersecurity:

  • UN ECE R155 Cyber security and cyber security management system
  • UN ECE R156 Software update and software update management system
  • ISO / SAE 21434 Authoritative CS standard for motor vehicles
  • ISO 13849 Requirements regarding machine controls
  • ISO 24089 Security of software updates

Equivalent to functional safety, Futavis products are developed as a “component out of context” within the framework of ISO/SAE 21434. This allows our cyber security concept to be integrated into your application.

One project – two options

Development project – The customized path to a safe product

  • Your application is classified
  • Joint identification of relevant laws, directives, regulations, standards and norms
  • Selection of suitable Futavis components and products (hardware & software)
  • Development of customized product

Application project – safety off the shelf

  • Your application is classified
  • Joint identification of application-relevant laws, directives, regulations, standards and norms
  • Selection of suitable & certified Futavis products
  • Software adaptation for parameter setting to the respective application
  • Derivation of necessary documentation from existing standard documents

Quality

Quality can be ensured at various points in the development and manufacturing process. Starting with the hardware and software development as well as the purchase of high-quality components and certified suppliers up to the end-of-line testing of every battery or battery component produced.

Quality management according to ISO 9001

As a system development partner, it is a matter of course for Futavis GmbH to achieve and maintain the necessary certificates and accreditations. Quality and environmental protection are our top priorities. Thus, our quality management system is certified according to ISO 9001:2015.

Quality management in the automotive industry according to IATF 16949, VDA Volume 6

IATF 16949 represented an extension of the ISO 9001 quality management standard for the automotive industry. The aim of the standard is to effectively improve system and process quality in order to increase customer satisfaction, identify errors and risks in the production process and supply chain, eliminate their causes, and check the effectiveness of corrective and preventive measures taken. The focus is not on detection, but on avoiding errors.

The IATF represents a federation of national automotive associations. Each of these implements the requirements of the standard in its own standards. In Germany, these are the standards of the VDA. Here, the process audit according to VDA Volume 6.3 ensures conformity to the standards. Thus, Futavis has undergone these audits by customers several times. Conversely, we also audit our suppliers with the help of auditors from our parent company Deutz AG to ensure our high quality in the supply chain as well.

Certificates

As a system development partner, it is a matter of course for Futavis GmbH to achieve and maintain the necessary certificates and accreditations. Product quality and safety are our top priorities. The following is a selection of currently valid certifications: