Abstract :
When designing a product, the earlier the potential risks can be identified, the more costs can be saved, as it is easier to
modify a design in its early stages. Several methods exist to analyze the risk in a system, but all require a mature design.
However, by applying the concept of “common interfaces” to a functional model and utilizing a historical knowledge
base, it is possible to analyze chains of failures during the conceptual phase of product design. This paper presents a method
based on these common interfaces to be used in conjunction with other methods such as risk in early design to allow a more
complete risk analysis during the conceptual design phase. Finally, application of this method is demonstrated in a design
setting by applying it to a thermal control subsystem.
