Overview
IEC 61160:2005 - Design review is an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) recommendation for implementing formal design review as part of the design and development phase. The standard explains how design reviews verify that design input requirements have been met and how they stimulate product improvement, increased dependability, and reduced lifecycle costs. IEC 61160 is intended to be applied across product development projects and tailored to the size, risk and complexity of each program.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Purpose and scope
- Verify conformity to design input requirements (performance, safety, dependability, EMC, human factors, environment, lifecycle costs).
- Provide recommendations to improve design robustness and effectiveness.
- Design review process elements
- Planning and integration into the design and development schedule.
- Preparation of an input package (documentation and evidence for review).
- Meeting notification, agenda, conduct of review meetings, and recording minutes.
- Actions, recommendations, follow-up and closure of action items.
- Management and roles
- Responsibilities of top management, design manager and review panel.
- Management review and decision authority remain with the design manager.
- Personnel and specialization
- Involvement of reliability, maintenance, availability, safety and human-factor specialists where relevant.
- Guidance on selecting review panel attributes and member responsibilities (see informative annexes).
- Supporting materials
- Informative annexes provide examples: design stages, review objectives, panel attributes, meeting topics, roles and checklist questions.
Practical applications and users
IEC 61160 is practical for organizations seeking structured, auditable design verification processes to improve product quality and reduce late-stage design changes. Typical users:
- Design managers and engineering leads - to plan and run reviews.
- Project managers - to integrate reviews into schedules and risk management.
- Quality assurance teams - to ensure compliance with design input requirements.
- Reliability/maintenance engineers, human factors and safety specialists - to supply subject-matter input.
- Suppliers, customers and consultants - for contract reviews and interface verification.
Benefits include earlier detection of design gaps, strengthened evidence for verification, reduced rework costs and improved product dependability.
Related standards
- ISO 9001:2000 - design and development management (referenced for process alignment)
- IEC 62198:2001 - project risk management (application guidance)
- IEC 60050-191:1990 - vocabulary: dependability and quality of service
Keywords: IEC 61160, design review, design verification, design input requirements, product dependability, design review checklist, design and development process.