DET NORSKE VERITAS AS
Recommended Practice DNV-RP-A203, July 2013
Sec.4 Technology Qualification Programme – Page 14
4 Technology Qualification Programme
The Technology Qualification Program provides a framework for managing qualification progress.
4.1 Technology Development and Qualification Progress
The uncertainties and failure probability generally decrease as a technology evolves through stages of
development and as knowledge and evidence is generated through technology qualification. The Technology
Qualification Process can be run throughout the development of the technology, or be started at any time in the
development. Figure 4-1 illustrates that uncertainty and the probability of failure are reduced as qualification
progresses, until a remaining failure probability is determined. In cases where the technology develops in
parallel with the qualification activities, the uncertainty will often increase when modifications are introduced,
before being reduced by further qualification activities.
Figure 4-1
Illustration of qualification progress for development phases represented by a series of milestones (MS)
The uncertainty is shown in
Figure 4-1 as probability density functions. Qualification is concluded when the
requirements for success, as laid down in the Technology Qualification Basis, have been reached. This process
is visualised in Figure 4-1 by the probability density function of the failure margin (defined in Sec.[2.1.10]),
being negative when failure occurs. Qualification concludes (success occurs) when a defined part of the tail
extends below zero.
In the early stages of development, assessment of the technology depends heavily on expert judgement (often
referred to as qualitative assessment). The main objective is to identify the main uncertainties. Subsequently,
the Technology Qualification Process addresses the most important uncertainties and gradually replaces expert
judgement with empirical evidence (often referred to as quantitative evidence). However, an element of
judgements will always remain, as the reports and statements supporting the Technology Qualification Basis
shall often depend on the interpretation of empirical evidence.
4.2 Contents of the Technology Qualification Programme
A Technology Qualification Program shall be established to support the management of the Technology
Qualification Process. Where applicable, it shall reflect the iterative nature of technology development as
illustrated in the example in Figure 4-2. The program shall also control the qualification activities and comply
with steps laid down in the framework found in Figure 5-1. Elements to be included in the Technology
Qualification Programme comprise:
— qualification strategy
— critical parameters
— decision gates
— the qualification team appointed to carry out the qualification
— resources needed (people, software/hardware, competencies etc.)
— roles (e.g. developer, independent reviewer, subject matter experts providing experience/analogues,
independent expert consulted to enhance confidence in evidence and conclusions, providers of evidence)
— responsibilities (specify requirements, completion of work, verification, make decisions)
— involvement of stakeholders, such as partners, clients, end users, sub-contractors, authorities, third parties
— regulatory requirements
— budget constraints
— schedule and milestones
Technology development phases with qualification milestones