The article presents an analysis of methods for predicting the resource of individual and unique machines based on scientific works, inventions, and regulatory documents since 1988. The analysis touched upon the works devoted to forecasting the design, initial, determined during manufacture, and residual resources. The advantages and disadvantages of methods for estimating the resource of single and unique machines are considered. The analysis showed that in most works and methodological recommendations, methods of forecasting the residual resource are mainly given. As is known, safety begins at the stage of project development, therefore, it is necessary to evaluate not only the residual resource, as is customary in most scientific developments, but also to more accurately determine the initial resource during manufacture and the current resource during operation. In earlier works, only the reliability of hazardous facilities was considered, and only in the last decade has the development of methods for evaluating the design and initial resource in the manufacture of single and unique machines begun. The ways of development of methods for assessing the resource of individual and unique machines in their manufacture in accordance with the requirements of standards and technical documentation are shown