ISO 26262 2nd Edition Module 6 – Safety Analyst: Dependent Failure Analysis (DFA) with Quantitative FMEDA and FTA Hardware Safety Analyses

This course is intended for:

• Functional Safety Engineers
• Safety Analysts
• Hardware Engineers
• System Engineers
• Cyber-Physical System Engineers
• Functional Safety Managers
• Technical Project Managers
• Reliability Engineers
• Quality Engineers
• Verification and Validation Engineers
• Automotive Electronics Developers
• Technical Assessors and Auditors
• Professionals involved in ISO 26262 hardware safety analyses

ISO 26262 requires the systematic assessment of hardware failures and their impact on functional safety. Building upon the foundational ISO 26262 training modules, this advanced course focuses on the quantitative safety analysis techniques necessary for demonstrating compliance with automotive functional safety requirements. Participants learn how quantitative FMEDA, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), and Dependent Failure Analysis (DFA) contribute to the verification of hardware architectures and safety concepts.

The course provides a comprehensive introduction to quantitative FMEDA, including failure rate estimation methods, failure mode distributions, diagnostic coverage evaluation, safety mechanism assessment, and calculation of Single Point Fault Metric (SPFM) and Latent Fault Metric (LFM). Participants practice the application of industry-recognized reliability data sources and learn how FMEDA supports hardware architectural metric evaluations required by ISO 26262 Part 5.

Participants also develop an understanding of quantitative Fault Tree Analysis and its role in evaluating complex fault combinations and safety goal violations. The training covers reliability theory, probability calculations, latent faults, minimal cut sets, importance analyses, and methodologies for determining the Probabilistic Metric for Random Hardware Failures (PMHF).

A dedicated section focuses on Dependent Failure Analysis. Learners assess common cause failures, cascading failures, coupling factors, common resources, and other dependencies that may compromise architectural independence and fault tolerance. Practical exercises demonstrate how DFA complements FMEDA and FTA during the hardware development lifecycle.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to plan, perform, review, and document quantitative hardware safety analyses and interpret their results within the context of ISO 26262 functional safety projects. The training combines theory, practical exercises, and real-world examples to ensure immediate applicability in automotive development environments.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the purpose of DFA, FMEDA and quantitative FTA within ISO 26262.
• Describe relationships between safety goals, TSRs, safety analyses and hardware metrics.
• Estimate component failure rates using accepted reliability data sources.
• Develop quantitative FMEDA spreadsheets and reports.
• Classify hardware faults according to ISO 26262 definitions.
• Calculate SPFM and LFM values.
• Identify and evaluate safety mechanisms and diagnostic coverage.
• Perform Dependent Failure Analysis and identify common cause failures.
• Apply reliability and probability theory concepts used in quantitative FTA.
• Quantify fault trees and determine critical failure combinations.
• Analyze minimal cut sets and importance rankings.
• Understand PMHF determination and its role in hardware safety compliance.
• Review and document quantitative safety analysis work products.

As a supplement to our existing training course on functional safety in accordance with ISO 26262 (modules 1 to 4): ISO 26262 Automotive Functional Safety Training and Certification Program, in this additional course you will receive in-depth training on safety-related analyses. This training is specifically aimed at participants in safety analyses that become necessary in the course of safety-related development according to the automotive standard ISO 26262. Block DFA 2 will deepen quantitative inductive analyses with a focus on hardware FMEDA and quantitative deductive analyses with a focus on quantitative FTA.

Dependent Failure Analysis with FTA / FMEDA Analysis - ISO 26262 Part. 5, 9, 11:

• In this training, the application of the Dependent Failure Analysis (DFA) in conjunction with the Functional Safety Lifecycle according to ISO 26262 is taught with regard to normative requirements and practical recommendations.
• Quantitative inductive analyses with a focus on hardware FMEDA as well as quantitative deductive analyses with a focus on quantitative FTA are practiced in this training.

Upon completion of this training, you will be able to:

• Understand the relationship between FMEDA, FTA, DFA and ISO 26262 work products.
• Perform quantitative FMEDA analyses for hardware safety assessment.
• Estimate hardware failure rates using industry-recognized data sources.
• Calculate SPFM and LFM hardware architectural metrics.
• Assess and justify diagnostic coverage assumptions.
• Conduct DFA to identify common cause and dependent failures.
• Build and interpret quantitative fault trees.
• Analyze minimal cut sets and importance measures.
• Determine PMHF contributions and support safety goal verification.
• Produce ISO 26262-compliant hardware safety analysis documentation.
• Improve confidence in hardware safety architecture decisions.

This instructor-led Live Online training combines:

• Expert-led lectures
• Guided demonstrations
• FMEDA workshops
• Quantitative FTA exercises
• DFA case studies
• Individual and group discussions
• Interactive problem-solving sessions
• Practical calculations based on an automotive low-beam headlight example
• Knowledge checks and Q&A sessions

Participants interact with the instructor and peers using webinar technology in a virtual classroom environment. Webcam and microphone participation is recommended for collaboration and exercises.

Participants are assessed through:

• Practical FMEDA exercises
• Quantitative FTA exercises
• Reliability and probability calculation exercises
• DFA workshops and case studies
• Interactive discussions and knowledge checks throughout the course

Participants who successfully complete the training receive a:

TÜV SÜD Certificate of Participation.

Participants receive:

• Digital training workbook/slides
• Practical FMEDA exercises
• Quantitative FTA examples and worksheets
• Reliability and failure-rate calculation exercises
• Case-study documentation
• Reference materials aligned with ISO 26262 Parts 5, 9 and 11

There are no mandatory prerequisites.

However, participants are strongly recommended to have:

• Basic understanding of functional safety concepts
• Familiarity with ISO 26262 terminology
• Experience with system, hardware or safety engineering

Recommended preparation:

Completion of ISO 26262 Modules 1–5 or equivalent knowledge:

• Modules 1-4 are covered in our ISO 26262 Automotive Functional Safety Training and Certification Program, and
• Module 5: Safety Analyst – DFA with Qualitative FMEA, FMEA-MSR and FTA Safety Analyses

To learn about our complete ISO 26262 certification program learning path, see Modular training program: ISO 26262 Training – Modules & Exams.

What is covered in ISO 26262 Module 6?

The course covers Dependent Failure Analysis (DFA), quantitative FMEDA, quantitative Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), SPFM, LFM, PMHF, reliability theory, hardware safety mechanisms, and hardware architectural metrics.

Is this course focused on hardware or software safety?

The course primarily focuses on hardware functional safety analyses required by ISO 26262 Parts 5, 9, and 11.

Will I learn how to perform an FMEDA?

Yes. Participants learn how to estimate failure rates, classify failure modes, apply diagnostic coverage, and calculate hardware architectural metrics.

Is Fault Tree Analysis covered quantitatively?

Yes. The course includes reliability calculations, fault probability modeling, minimal cut set evaluation, PMHF determination, and quantitative interpretation of FTA results.

What is Dependent Failure Analysis (DFA)?

DFA is a method used to identify common cause, cascading, and other dependent failures that may compromise the independence of safety mechanisms and redundant architectures.

Does the course include practical exercises?

Yes. Multiple hands-on exercises are included for FMEDA calculations, DFA evaluations, reliability calculations, and quantitative FTA assessments.

Which ISO 26262 parts are covered?

The training primarily references ISO 26262 Parts 5, 9, and 11.

Will PMHF calculation be covered?

Yes. Participants learn how PMHF is determined and how quantitative analyses support PMHF verification.

What prior knowledge is recommended?

Completion of ISO 26262 Modules 1–5 or equivalent functional safety knowledge is strongly recommended.

What certificate will participants receive?

Participants receive a TÜV SÜD Certificate of Participation upon completion of the training.

How long is the course?

The course duration is two days.

Does the course explain the relationship between FMEDA, DFA and FTA?

Yes. One of the key learning outcomes is understanding how these complementary analyses support ISO 26262 hardware safety verification and compliance.

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