TBD

Authors

  • Charles Hoes Hoes Engineering

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56094/jss.v52i2.124

Keywords:

system safety, change, education, standard

Abstract

The discussion concerning possible future directions for the ISSS have continued since the 2015 Conference in San Diego, California. This discussion centers around the question of whether, in this time of dwindling membership and financial resources, the ISSS should continue to operate as it has during the past three or four decades, or try something new and bold for the future.

It is my opinion that now is a great time to strive for something new and bold. Since I joined the Society in the 1980s, it has always been my contention that this organization promotes the most important approach to ensuring the safety of systems and products, large and small. The founders and members of the Society have crafted a spectacularly successful approach for the identification and mitigation of potential hazards and risks early during the design and development process where appropriate and cost-effective solutions can be integrated into the overall design under consideration. As I have mentioned on numerous occasions, it is my observation that there is a tendency for industries and organizations to begin to implement system safety principles in standards, requirements and processes — only to eventually change direction back toward their old ways of depending upon compliance to detailed design-based standards. This is done, rather than trusting the analysis-based approach that we have proven effective on literally trillions of dollars of programs spanning from small and relatively simple systems, to the most complex and innovative projects in the world.

Author Biography

Charles Hoes, Hoes Engineering

Charles “Charlie” Hoes began his consulting business in 1984, providing system safety engineering services to defense, aerospace, semiconductor and general industry. During that time he has become a P.E. in Safety in the State of California, a Certified Safety Profession (CSP) with a specialty System Safety Practices and earned a Master of Science degree in Safety from University of Southern California. In 1988 Charlie incorporated his business under the name of “Hoes Engineering, Inc.” He has many years of experience volunteering in support of the International System Safety Society, filling many positions including past President of the Sacramento Chapter, the Virtual Chapter, and the System Safety Society. He is a past technical editor of the System Society’s journal Hazard Prevention (re-named to be the Journal of System Safety), as well as authoring an ongoing feature article of the Journal of System Safety called “TBD” where he discusses current concerns with the system safety profession.

In his new role of being semi-retired, Charlie continues to actively work with the System Safety Society as well as participating in a few “for hire” and volunteer projects that are particularly interesting, or important, for a variety of reasons. He is enjoying the ability of being a bit more selective with regard to projects that he accepts.

TBD

Downloads

Published

2016-10-01

How to Cite

Hoes, C. (2016). TBD. Journal of System Safety, 52(2), 6–7. https://doi.org/10.56094/jss.v52i2.124