Product Integrity Matters – Glossary
A
Analysis (Engineering)
A structured evaluation of a product’s design, performance, and failure modes using engineering principles to determine product integrity, compliance, and reliability.
C
Compliance
The process of ensuring a product meets all applicable laws, regulations, and standards (such as FMVSS), including documentation and verification.
Corrective Action
Steps taken to fix a design, process, or manufacturing matter that has created or could create a product integrity or compliance risk.
D
Defensible Engineering
Engineering decisions and documentation that can be clearly justified using sound principles, data, and industry standards—especially in legal or regulatory review.
Design Review
A formal evaluation of product design to identify risks, product integrity concerns, or gaps before production or field use.
Documentation (Engineering)
Records that explain how and why a product was designed, tested, and validated—including drawings, calculations, test reports, and decisions.
Due Care
The level of judgment, attention, and responsibility expected of a reasonable engineer or company to prevent harm. Demonstrating due care is often critical in defending product decisions.
E
Expert Witness (Engineering)
An engineer qualified to provide independent, professional opinions in legal matters involving product design, safety, compliance, or failure analysis.
F
Failure Mode
A specific way in which a product or component can fail, potentially leading to product integrity matters or loss of function.
Field Failure
A product failure that occurs during real-world use, often triggering investigation, corrective action, or potential recall.
FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards)
U.S. federal regulations that define minimum safety performance requirements for motor vehicles and related equipment.
P
Product Integrity
The combined result of sound design, proper testing, compliance with regulations, and clear documentation—ensuring a product promotes product safety, is reliable and defensible and performs as intended throughout its lifecycle.
R
Recall Investigation
A structured process to determine whether a product defect exists, assess safety risk, evaluate regulatory implications, and decide whether a recall or other corrective action is necessary.
Regulatory Requirements
Legal obligations that products must meet to be sold or used in a given market, often defined by government agencies.
Risk Assessment
The process of identifying potential hazards, evaluating their likelihood and severity, and determining appropriate mitigation strategies.
Root Cause Analysis
A systematic method used to identify the underlying cause of a failure or issue—not just the symptoms—so that effective and lasting corrective actions can be implemented.
S
Standards (Engineering)
Established technical guidelines or specifications used to ensure consistency and quality in design / manufacturing.
T
Testing (Validation & Verification)
Procedures used to confirm that a product meets design intent (verification) and performs as intended in real-world conditions (validation).