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Key Concepts

System structure defines the architecture and decomposition strategy for your product. In TestAuto2 — Automotive Safety Solution, system structure provides the foundation for:
  • Traceability: Linking requirements, functions, and characteristics to physical elements
  • FMEA Organization: Grouping failure modes by system element (SFMEA, DFMEA, PFMEA)
  • Risk Analysis: Allocating safety goals and ASIL ratings to system components
  • Design Verification: Mapping verification activities to system elements
Your system decomposes into subsystems (major functional areas), which further decompose into components (physical or logical units). Each element has its own functions, characteristics, and failure modes tracked in dedicated documents.

Common Workflow

diagram

When to Use Each Guide

TaskGuide
Create new system elements at any levelDefine System Elements
Establish parent-child hierarchy and decompositionCreate System Hierarchy
Link functions to specific system elementsAllocate Functions to Elements
Visualize system structure and navigate hierarchyUse System Structure Navigator
Once system elements are used in FMEA documents, characteristics, or verification sheets, changing the hierarchy should be done carefully to avoid breaking traceability links. Plan your structure upfront.