All Design activities are strictly controlled to ensure that the design output information complies with customer/contract requirements, and all design input data.

Design activities are planned and normally executed by specialists and are subject to regular management, review and verification by the Ownership, and where relevant, agreement with the Customer.

The design input and output items are documented, and where ambiguity exists, will be clarified and documented. All items of design documentation and notes are recorded in a design project file. Design output documentation is produced and reviewed to ensure that it:

• meets the design input,
• references the design input or appropriate criteria,
• and identifies all of the characteristics which are critical to the safe and effective operation of the system(s).

Design output is reviewed and approved by the Ownership, and is also provided to the Customer for approval prior to use. Validation of the design is achieved during commissioning of the system to confirm compliance to the customer’s requirements.

The designer is required to specify any inspections or tests which may verify the design, by practical means, at the earliest possible stage of development.

All changes to the design criteria, input or output are subject to strict review and documentation control procedures.