The Method of Selecting the Interval of Functional Tests Taking into Account Economic Aspects and Legal Requirements

Abstract

The article discusses the problem of choosing the optimal frequency of functional tests, taking into account the reliability and law requirements, but also the impact of business aspects in the company. The subject of functional test interval is well described for purposes of the process industry. Unfortunately, this is not the case for the machinery safety functions with low demand mode. This is followed by a presentation of the current business approach, which, in order to achieve industrial excellence, monitor their performance through the appropriate selection of key performance indicators. In addition, companies are increasingly exploring potential risks in the following areas: new challenges in advanced risk management, including the perception of the company’s facilities as a safe workplace insight of customers and business partners. Eliminating potential hazards is increasingly taking into account, especially the impact of human activity and its interaction with machines. The case study has been presented based on the machines used for the production of tire semi-finished products. In this article, the authors propose a solution for selecting the interval of functional tests of safety functions and additional machine protection measures as a compromise to achieve satisfactory results in terms of safety requirements, performance and legal requirements.