BS ISO 16404:2020

What is ISO 16404 about? 

ISO 16404 provides the requirements for space project requirements management (RM). 

ISO 16404 addresses the space programme/project management requirements, applicable through a top-down approach in a contractual relationship between customers and suppliers. 

The objective of ISO 16404 is to state and establish a common reference framework for all the customers and suppliers in the space sector to deploy requirements management for all space products and projects. 

ISO 16404 on requirements management includes: 

• A definition of the requirements management scope for the space sector 
• The standard processes for requirements management within the product lifecycle management 
• A set of rules for requirements management activities to be implemented by the actors (customers and suppliers), including rules derived from best practices 

Who is ISO 16404 for? 

ISO 16404 on space system programme management is applicable to: 

• Space research organisations 
• Aerospace industry 
• The requirements management/systems engineering process owners of the customers and suppliers for space programmes and projects 
• The programme/project managers managing the space programmes 
• The chief engineers and the quality managers in space programmes and projects 

Why should you use ISO 16404? 

Space project management tools are essential to run everyday functions smoothly. They should have the minimum features required to be useful for their users. 

ISO 16404 will help you to clarify and enhance current practices to improve programme management. It is intended to be used by space programmes when establishing, performing, or evaluating requirements management processes in the space sector. 

The deployment of ISO 16404 standardized common set of requirements management is intended to encourage and facilitate international space cooperation. ISO 16404 allows customer/supplier flexibility in its implementation and tailoring. 

ISO 16404 provides guidelines on requirements management for aerospace programmes, which is particularly important due to: 

• Specific environmental conditions in space 
• A need for a high level of performance and a limited number of models 
• Limited access to the product during operations 
• Quasi-impossibility of repairing in the case of failure during flight 
• Often high complexity of the organization 
• Associated high costs 

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS ISO 16404:2020 supersedes BS ISO 16404:2013, which is withdrawn. BS ISO 16404:2020 has the terms and definitions have been updated to be consistent with ISO 10795 with respect to previous addition BS ISO 16404:2013.