Safety-Critical Engineering

Products & Services

Safety-Critical Engineering

Critical is expert in the engineering of safety, mission and business-critical software-intensive systems. Since 1999, we have developed and fine-tuned engineering processes and methodologies to produce high-integrity solutions that offer the best possible results for our customers. In particular, we have extensive knowledge of developing safety-critical solutions at the highest levels of integrity to meet standards and guidelines such as DO-178B, EN 50126/8/9, IEC 61508 and 00-55/56.

Safety-critical systems, such as maintenance and asset management systems, are complex and often require comprehensive management systems to support them throughout their life. We have significant experience in developing such critical systems to ensure that they are always used and maintained according to their suppliers' precise specifications. Complementing these skills are the competencies we have developed in data mining and business intelligence, which allow us to analyse large amounts of complex data accurately and derive results which managers and key stakeholders can use to help make important decisions in a timely manner. These skills have been applied in the area of Health & Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) to improve the maintainability of aircraft.

For Critical, innovation is the key driver to continued success and growth. Typically, we invest more than 15% of our annual profits in our research and development activities and in collaborative research projects with universities and partner organisations. For example, we are currently looking at ways to apply formal methods more cost-effectively in high-integrity projects in the aeronautics and transport industries. We advocate the application of the Model Driven Development paradigm and seek to use it in all our engineering projects throughout their life. We are gearing up to support the forthcoming DO-178C software guidelines standard, which we consider will offer significant cost savings through the use of more advanced tools, technologies and methodologies.

We are experienced in all major development languages, approaches and tools, which enables us always to offer the most suitable and cost-effective solution to any given problem. We take pride in our reputation for delivering on-time, on-budget and to exacting specifications. If you have an engineering problem, Critical can help you.

Near-Shore Engineering

Critical can offer attractive solutions for your safety-critical software development needs using the near-shore engineering services at our centre in Portugal, where an experienced team of engineers works in an environment governed by a strict quality control system (certified to CMMI Level 5). Projects remain under the control of our UK-based team of managers and senior engineers, offering a highly-responsive interface. This combined approach provides a low cost engineering solution that maintains the UK presence essential for ensuring you meet the expectations of the sophisticated UK market.