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System SafetyCertification

Clif EricsonSteve Mattern

for System Safety Society

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System Safety Certification

Professional certification in System Safety

BCSP has dropped system safety specialty

Should a system safety certification be established?Is there need?Is there value?Should the Society be establishing certification criteria?

Navy is establishing system safety certificationNavy - Principal for Safety (PFS) – requiredOSD has asked Navy to approach Army and Air ForceFAA considering

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System Safety Certification

NeedIndividuals are selling low quality safety skills…Little influence on the system during the design phasesMany system safety engineers are not well rounded…there is a wide variety of “how to” methods in the system safety tool box.Project Managers willing to “cram” non-skilled engineers into system safety “slots”…”pounding a square peg into a round hole”Lack of respect by project personnel

ValueEstablish a baseline Body of Knowledge for system safetyPersonnel qualifications and training can be measured and confirmedEstablish a qualified skill baseBuild respect for system safety disciplineEnsure the right SS tasks are performed, and performed correctly

Certifying agentSystem Safety Society

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Need for Certification

“Basic root-cause analysis suggests that one of the most basic reasons faults occur is due to professional qualification deficiencies”

Survey of DC chapter90% of the respondents favor a system safety professional certification program73% of the respondents stated they would pursue a Society developed system safety certification

Reference - Wilson, P. F., Dell, L. D., Gaylord, F. A., Root Cause Analysis, a Tool for Total Quality Management, ASQC Quality Press, 1993

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What Does Certification Mean?

System safety is a critical skill that must be performed correctly and in a timely manner to influence the design of the system

In unregulated professions, certification assumes the role of ensuring practitioners possess the knowledge and skill to perform their job correctly and effectively

Certification means that a person has demonstrated knowledge and competency in the skill

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Why S3 ?

Single recognized body of expertiseCohesiveness - one responsible body, not several different industry areas (e.g., Army, Navy, FAA, etc.)Society provides credibilityAbility to monitor industry area changes and needsBCSP has dropped SS specialty

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Example - Reliability Certification

The American Society for Quality (ASQ) provides the Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) certification

“Many senior executives realize that employee certification can improve their company’s bottom line and enhance business processes due to increased efficiency, less down time and higherquality decisions” (ref. Journal of the Reliability Analysis Center, 2004)

Certification is formal recognition that an individual has demonstrated comprehension and proficiency within a Body of Knowledge

Certification is peer recognition and not registration or licensing

Certification is a mark of excellence (which benefits companies)

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Example - CRE Certification

Candidates must meet 3 criteria1 - Have a specified level of education and/or experience

8 years experience2 yrs waived with Associate degree4 yrs waived with Bachelor's degree5 yrs waived with Master's or PhD

2 - Provide proof of professionalismASQ memberPESignature of 2 ASQ members

3 - Pass a standardized examination administered by ASQ

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Support for S3 Certification

GEIA G-48Navy

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What’s Required for S3 ?

S3 Certification Standard To include specific criteriaLevels of Certification

S3 Certification Assessment (testing)S3 CertificateS3 Certification staff (I.e., Director)

Part of Professional Development

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S3 Certification Standard

RequirementsEducationExperience

ExaminationMaintenance

For each defined level of competency

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NOSSA Safety Strategy

SSStandard

SSGuidelines

SSCertification

SSTraining

NOSSA Web SiteTrainingTestingInformationResources

Navy SWS Cert Process

JSSSH

Weapon SS Guidelines Handbook

NOSSAManuals

MIL-STD-882D

SS - System SafetySWS - Software SafetyJSSSH - Joint Software System Safety Handbook

WSESRB Certificate

WSESRBCertification

Standard

QualificationsRequirementsMaintenance

BCSP Testing

GraduateLevel Training

Programs

Navy Safety Policy and Guidelines

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SponsorNOSSA

Naval Ordnance Safety and Security ActivityResponsible for safety of explosives (i.e., weapon systems) on all Navy shipsWSESRBWeapon Systems Explosives Safety Review Board (WSESRB)Software System Safety Technical Review Panel (SSSTRP)

NOSSA contactsEd Kratovil 301-744-6074Jim Gerber 301-744-6018

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Topic 1 – System Safety Guidelines

Weapons Systems Safety Guidelines Handbook (WSSGH)

Joint Software System Safety Handbook (JSSSH) - done

Navy Software Safety Certification Process (NSWSCP)

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Topic 2 – System Safety Training

WSESRB Website

Naval Post Graduate School

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Topic 3 – System Safety Certification

Navy is establishing system safety certificationPrincipal for Safety (PFS) - requiredNavy contractors - as desired

Required by Navy policy

Needed due to mishap risk of complex high consequence systems

BCSP has dropped system safety specialty

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Certification ProcessThree levels

1 - High Consequence System2 - Medium Consequence System3 - Low Consequence System

CriteriaExperiencePass on-line test modules at WSESRB (NOSSA) website

General system safetyWeapon systems safety module

Pass BCSP system safety specialty examComplete Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level I courses

Certification in system safety from WSESRB (NOSSA)

Certifications must be renewed every 4 years

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High Consequence

System/Component Education Experience Qualifications

Required

BS in Engineering,Computer Scienceor related field

Medium Consequencesystems includenew ship builds, combat systems,

missiles, torpedoes, etc.

•4 years in system safety, plus•2 years on similar systems

•BCSP system safety specialty exam

•General system safety training module

•Weapon system safety training module

•DAWIA Level I certified in systems engineering

Same as above •6 years in system safety , plus•4 years on similar systems

BS or AA Same as above

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Medium Consequence

System/Component Education Experience Qualifications

Required

BS in Engineering,Computer Scienceor related field

Medium Consequencesystems includefuzes, shoulder launched weapons, wheeled vehicle components, etc.

•4 years in system safety •BCSP system safety specialty exam

•General system safety training module

•Weapon system safety training module

•DAWIA Level I certified in systems engineering

Same as above •4 years in system safety , plus•2 years on similar systems

BS or AA Same as above

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Low Consequence

System/Component Education Experience Qualifications

Required

BS in Engineering,Computer Scienceor related field

Low Consequencesystems includesmall armsammunition, CADs,flares, hand grenades,etc.

•1 year in system safety •BCSP system safety specialty exam

•General system safety training module

•Weapon system safety training module

•DAWIA Level I certified in systems engineering

Same as above •2 years in system safetyBS or AA Same as above

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NOSSA Proposal

NOSSA will share some certification aspects with S3

S3 does not have to developTrainingWeb Based Testing

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NOSSA Proposal

SSStandard

SSGuidelines

SSCertification

SSTraining

NOSSA Web SiteTrainingTestingInformationResources

Navy SWS Cert Process

JSSSH

Weapon SS Guidelines Handbook

NOSSAManuals

MIL-STD-882D

SS - System SafetySWS - Software SafetyJSSSH - Joint Software System Safety Handbook

WSESRB Certificate

WSESRBCertification

Standard

QualificationsRequirementsMaintenance

BCSP Testing

GraduateLevel Training

Programs

Navy Safety Policy and Guidelines

NOSSA will share with SSS

SSS Standard

SSS Certificate

TBD

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Benefits of S3 Certification

Strengthen SS disciplineProvide credibility to SS disciplineProvide credibility to SSS

May obtain more membersTruly professional society

Help ensure individuals are qualified for industry

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Recommendation

The SSS establish a policy to provide system safety certificationMake the Director of Professional Development responsible for certification

PlanImplementationOperation

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Navy Certification

Navy Certification PresentationThursday 8:50Jim Gerber

OSD wants to expand Navy certification to Army and Air Force

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Questions