Let's look again at the steps contained in the V-model discussed in the previous medium article. I have included the image here for reference. The V-model shows the entire safety life cycle, starting from the concept phase through the product development and ending in production. In general, a functional safety manager will need to coordinate and document the entire cycle. Ask yourself, is my product new or am I modifying an existing product?

The chemical industry is -without question- one of the most important industries in the world. Not only do 90% of our everyday products contain chemicals, but the industry also employs approximately 10 million people. Naturally, they were one of the first to embrace digital technologies such as process control systems or sensors which have a long tradition in production. According to Frithjof Netzer, Senior Vice-President and Project Lead 4.0 of BASF: "A lot of energy and momentum in the field of digital can be observed, Chemicals are catching up. It is not the question if, but rather what and how it will be done." A continuous digital transformation plays a crucial role in several key aspects of the industry.