How to choose an FMEA or HAZOP/LOPA tool
FMEA analyses the failure modes of a component or system; HAZOP and LOPA study process deviations and the layers of protection that contain them. Choosing a tool starts with the method and sector (automotive, process industry, general reliability).
Choose by need
| Analyse the failure modes of a component (FMEA) | Specialised tools (APIS IQ, XFMEA, DataLyzer, Isograph) serve different uses: automotive, reliability engineering, production or links to fault trees. A multi-method platform such as Polyodos covers FMEA alongside HAZOP, LOPA and bow-tie. |
|---|---|
| Study process deviations (HAZOP) and layers of protection (LOPA) | Kenexis Open-PHA offers a free desktop version; Sphera PHA-Pro and BakerRisk PHA-Tool target facilitated studies, with optional support. |
Checks before choosing
- Check the deployment mode (desktop, cloud, on-premise) and where study data will be stored.
- Ask for a quote and the licensing terms: subscription, per-seat, or included facilitation service.
- Try the tool on a representative case (a real component or a known process deviation) before rolling it out.
- Check compatibility with the expected frameworks: IEC 60812 for FMEA, IEC 61882 and CCPS LOPA for HAZOP/LOPA.
Comparison of selected tools
Indicative, non-exhaustive selection. Deployment and limitations summarise publisher sources; this is not a certification or safety assessment. Information checked on 2026-09-26.
| Tool | Method and use | Access | Deployment | Limitations | Source / checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APIS IQ-Software ↗ | FMEA Leading automotive FMEA tool; structure, function and failure trees aligned with the harmonised manuals. | Commercial publisher | Free trial available for download; academic licence on request. Deployment mode (desktop/cloud) not stated on the site. | Pricing not published, on quote. | Publisher source ↗Checked 2026-09-26 |
| BakerRisk PHA-Tool ↗ | HAZOP / LOPA Software suite for facilitating PHA/HAZOP/LOPA studies (spreadsheet structure, export), with optional BakerRisk facilitators. | Commercial publisher | Licensed software (3, 6 or 12 months); professional facilitation available as a separate service. | 7-day free trial on registration; licence pricing not published. | Publisher source ↗Checked 2026-09-26 |
| DataLyzer FMEA ↗ | FMEA Production-oriented; integrates with SPC and shop-floor quality management. | Commercial publisher | Web-based quality software. | Pricing not published; access via a sales demo. | Publisher source ↗Checked 2026-09-26 |
| Isograph Reliability Workbench (FMECA) ↗ | FMEA FMECA module of the Reliability Workbench suite, linked to fault trees and reliability block diagrams (RBD). | Commercial publisher | Free trial offered; deployment mode (desktop/cloud) not stated on the site. | Pricing not published; a customer area serves existing licences. | Publisher source ↗Checked 2026-09-26 |
| Kenexis Open-PHA ↗ | HAZOP / LOPA PHA, HAZOP and LOPA; HAZOP scenarios linked to LOPA scenarios. | Commercial publisherFree | Free Desktop version (Windows/Mac/Linux, offline) or subscription Cloud version (AI, dashboards). | Cloud: about $2,300/year per concurrent-user licence (publisher figure, to confirm); 30-day Cloud trial on request. Unlicensed Cloud view-only access is free and unlimited. | Publisher source ↗Checked 2026-09-26 |
| Polyodos ↗ | FMEA · HAZOP / LOPA FMEA, HAZOP and LOPA with reusable libraries and action tracking, on the same platform (with PHA and bow-tie). | Commercial publisherFree for teaching | Browser application; local storage, private server or Polyodos server. | Collaboration and sync require a server; a local project stays in its browser. | Publisher source ↗Checked 2026-09-26 |
| ReliaSoft XFMEA ↗ | FMEA Reliability-engineering standard; links design and process FMEA, generates control plans. | Commercial publisher | Ask HBK / ReliaSoft for the deployment mode. | Pricing not published, on quote. | Publisher source ↗Checked 2026-09-26 |
| Sphera PHA-Pro ↗ | HAZOP / LOPA HAZOP and LOPA in a centralised platform, with PHA templates. | Commercial publisher | Deployment mode (desktop/cloud) not stated; a five-part sales demo is available. | No public pricing; access only through a sales contact. | Publisher source ↗Checked 2026-09-26 |