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Simulink Tool Qualification —
The ISO 26262 Way

We follow Part 8 Clause 11. You get a clear process, the right documents, and evidence that stands up in an audit.

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Training · Qualification Kit · ASIL A–D

How Tool Impact and Tool Error Detection combine to determine the Tool Confidence Level under ISO 26262 TI × TD → TCL TD 1 TD 2 TD 3 no detection high detection TI 1 no impact TI 2 possible impact TCL 1 TCL 1 TCL 1 TCL 1 TCL 2 TCL 3 TCL 1 — no qualification TCL 2 — confidence from use TCL 3 — full validation

TOOL CONFIDENCE LEVEL · ISO 26262-8 CL.11

MATLAB & Simulink Partner

Three Things That Go Wrong —
and How to Avoid Them

Three mistakes derail most ISO 26262 tool qualification efforts: assuming Simulink is already qualified, choosing the wrong qualification method for your ASIL level, and leaving the confidence-level assessment until too late — each avoidable with the right approach.

01

Skipping the TCL Assessment

Many teams assume Simulink is already qualified. It is not. The vendor can provide pre-qualification — but the final qualification must be done in your own environment. That is your responsibility.

02

Wrong Qualification Method

Choosing the wrong method for your ASIL level can invalidate your entire safety case. Each TCL level requires a different approach — and the difference matters.

03

Missing Documentation

A good process without evidence is still a failed audit. Traceability and clear records are not optional — they are the qualification.

How ISO 26262 Part 8 Clause 11 Works —
in 5 Steps

ISO 26262 tool qualification follows five steps: rate the tool's impact (TI), determine how likely errors are to be detected (TD), combine them into a Tool Confidence Level (TCL), select the required qualification method, and produce the evidence — this section walks through each in plain terms.

1
Tool Impact (TI)

Could this tool cause an error in your safety-related work?

If the tool can affect your safety case, it has a Tool Impact rating of TI 2. If it cannot, it is TI 1.

TI 1 — No impact TI 2 — Possible impact
2
Tool Error Detection (TD)

Would you notice if the tool made a mistake?

TD 1 means you have a high chance of detecting an error. TD 2 is low. TD 3 means no detection is possible at all.

TD 1 — High detection TD 2 — Low detection TD 3 — No detection
3
Tool Confidence Level (TCL)

Combine TI and TD to get your TCL.

TCL 1 = low risk. TCL 2 = medium. TCL 3 = high.

TD 1TD 2TD 3
TI 1 TCL 1 TCL 1 TCL 1
TI 2 TCL 1 TCL 2 TCL 3
4
Qualification Method

Choose your qualification method based on your TCL.

TCL 1 No qualification needed.
TCL 2 Show increased confidence from use.
TCL 3 Full tool validation or process evaluation.
5
Documentation

Your qualification is only valid if you can show your work.

Clear records. Traceable evidence. Audit-ready. Without documentation, none of the above counts.

Interactive Tools

Explore the qualification workflow step by step, or calculate your TCL level directly.

Start
You use Simulink in a safety-related project
1
Tool Impact (TI)

Could this tool cause an error in your safety work?

Yes → TI 2 No → TI 1
2
Tool Error Detection (TD)

Would you notice if the tool made a mistake?

Easily → TD 1 With difficulty → TD 2 Not at all → TD 3
3
Tool Confidence Level (TCL) — Combine TI + TD
TD 1TD 2TD 3
TI 1 TCL 1 TCL 1 TCL 1
TI 2 TCL 1 TCL 2 TCL 3
4
Choose Qualification Method
TCL 1
No qualification needed

Document the TI/TD assessment. You are done.

TCL 2
Increased Confidence from Use

Show usage history or field experience.

TCL 3
Tool Validation or Process Evaluation

Full qualification with test cases and evidence.

5
Document Everything

Qualification Report · Traceability · Audit-Ready Evidence

Tool Qualified ✓
Compliant with ISO 26262 Part 8 Clause 11
Step 1 — Tool Impact (TI)
Step 2 — Tool Error Detection (TD)
TD 1TD 2TD 3
TI 1 TCL 1 TCL 1 TCL 1
TI 2 TCL 1 TCL 2 TCL 3
Select a TI and TD value above to see your TCL result.

A Real Example: Qualifying EverCheck
for ASIL-D

EverCheck is a static model analysis tool for Simulink, Stateflow and TargetLink. It checks your models for safety compliance — and flags errors before they reach your code.

1
Tool Impact (TI)

EverCheck is part of your verification process.

If it misses a model error, that error can reach your production code.

TI 2 The tool can affect your safety case.
2
Tool Error Detection (TD)

Can you independently detect an error in EverCheck's output?

At ASIL-D, additional reviews and back-to-back testing are required — but they are not always enough to catch a silent tool failure.

TD 2 or TD 3 in most ASIL-D projects.
3
Tool Confidence Level (TCL)

Combine TI and TD to get your TCL.

TI 2 + TD 2 → TCL 2    TI 2 + TD 3 → TCL 3

For ASIL-D, assume TCL 3 unless you have strong evidence for TD 2.

4
Qualification Method

TCL 3 requires full tool validation or process evaluation.

EverBits provides a pre-qualification package — a safety manual and a qualification kit. This is a strong starting point. But you still need to run the validation tests in your own environment and document the results. That is your qualification.

5
What You Need to Document

Your evidence package for ASIL-D.

  • Completed validation test results from your environment
  • Your TI / TD / TCL assessment
  • Tool version and configuration used in the project
  • Reference to EverBits safety manual
EverCheck makes ASIL-D qualification achievable. The vendor does the heavy lifting — but the final evidence must come from you.
Also from EverBits

EverTest — Qualifiable Dynamic Verification (TCL 3)

EverTest — EverBits' dynamic verification tool for Simulink, Stateflow and TargetLink — is also qualifiable, with a safety manual assessed by TÜV SÜD (TCL 3). It ships with the same qualification kit structure, covering test specification, execution and reporting for MIL, SIL and PIL back-to-back testing.

→ Learn more about EverTest

Everything You Need —
In One Place

ISO 26262 tool qualification does not have to slow you down. We give you the knowledge, the tools, and the guidance to do it right — from first assessment to final report.

📚

Learn It

Our training gives your team a clear, practical understanding of ISO 26262 Part 8 Clause 11.

  • How to assess TI, TD and TCL for any Simulink tool
  • How to choose the right method for your ASIL level
  • Hands-on example: qualifying EverCheck for ASIL-D
🔧

Use It

Our qualification kit gives you a ready-to-use starting point.

  • Pre-qualification evidence and safety manual
  • Validation test suite — ready to run in your environment
  • TCL assessment templates and step-by-step workflow

Get It Done

If you need hands-on support, we work with you directly.

  • TI / TD / TCL assessment for your specific tools
  • Qualification plan tailored to your ASIL level
  • Full documentation package — audit-ready
🧪

EverTest — Qualifiable (TCL 3)

Dynamic model verification for Simulink, Stateflow and TargetLink — with a complete ISO 26262 Qualification Kit included.

  • TCL 3 ready — TÜV SÜD assessed
  • MIL / SIL / PIL back-to-back testing
  • Unit tests and compliance reports inside MATLAB

→ Learn more about EverTest

Want the workflow behind the evidence? Free self-paced training in ISO 26262 for Simulink, Simulink and Stateflow, plus the EverTest tutorial library.

Trusted by Safety Teams Since 2012

Over a decade of hands-on experience in ISO 26262 tool qualification — across ASIL A to D projects in the automotive industry.

12+ years ISO 26262 qualification experience
ASIL D Highest integrity level fully supported
TCL 3 EverCheck & EverTest pre-qualified
Part 8 · Cl.11 Every step follows the standard

"We have worked with OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers on programs where getting qualification right was not optional. Our customers do not share their names publicly. Their audits speak for themselves."

Frequently Asked Questions

Tool Impact, Tool Error Detection and the Tool Confidence Level — the questions that come up most in an ISO 26262 Part 8 Clause 11 assessment.

No. The vendor can provide pre-qualification materials, but the final tool qualification must be performed in your own project environment. This is a requirement of ISO 26262 Part 8 Clause 11.
Tool Impact (TI) determines whether a software tool can introduce errors into safety-related work products. TI 1 means no impact. TI 2 means the tool could affect the safety case.
Tool Error Detection (TD) measures how likely it is that an error introduced by the tool would be detected independently. TD 1 means high detection, TD 2 means low, and TD 3 means no detection is possible.
TCL is determined by combining the Tool Impact (TI) and Tool Error Detection (TD) ratings. TCL 1 requires no qualification. TCL 2 requires increased confidence from use. TCL 3 requires full tool validation or process evaluation.
TCL 2 allows qualification by demonstrating increased confidence from use, such as usage history and field experience. TCL 3 requires full tool validation or a process evaluation — the most rigorous method under ISO 26262 Part 8 Clause 11.
TCL 3 requires either full tool validation — including validation tests run in your own environment — or a process evaluation. The vendor may provide a qualification kit as a starting point, but the final evidence must come from your own project environment.
Yes. EverCheck is a qualifiable static model analysis tool for Simulink under ISO 26262. For ASIL-D projects, EverCheck typically receives a TCL 3 rating, requiring full tool validation in your environment. EverBits provides a pre-qualification kit including a safety manual to support this process.
For ASIL-D projects, most Simulink tools like EverCheck will reach TCL 3, requiring full tool validation or process evaluation, plus complete audit-ready documentation including test results from your own environment.

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