Independent engineering judgement when the consequences matter.
Evidence-based incident investigation, safety governance and compliance support for complex, regulated and safety-critical systems. Clear findings. Clear boundaries. No theatre.
Request an initial callWhat we do
We help organisations prevent repeat failures by turning messy events into clear, defensible engineering actions.
Investigate
Independent technical investigations focused on systems, evidence and causal chains.
Assure
Gap reviews that test “work as imagined” against “work as done”.
Govern
Committee and leadership support to improve decision quality and traceability.
We do not provide design certification, statutory sign-off, legal opinion, or “compliance guarantees”.
Services
Built for organisations that need clarity, not slogans.
Engineering incident & near-miss investigation
- Evidence review (documents, data, physical systems where permitted)
- Causal chain mapping and root cause analysis
- Latent condition identification (drift, legacy practice, hidden assumptions)
- Defensible report with prioritised recommendations
Excludes disciplinary attribution and liability statements.
Safety & compliance gap assessment
- SOPs and controls reviewed against operational reality
- Risk-ranked findings with pragmatic mitigations
- Focus on preventing repeat events, not producing paperwork
Materials, process & supplier risk review
- SDS/specification alignment to actual operating envelope
- Misapplication and compatibility risk identification
- Support to engage OEM/suppliers (non-contractual)
Engineering governance & safety committee support
- Independent technical input for leadership and committees
- Structured challenge: assumptions, failure modes, evidence
- Decision traceability and action follow-through support
Approach
The work is straightforward. The discipline is non-negotiable.
How engagements run
- Define scope: what’s in, what’s out, what success looks like.
- Collect evidence: documents, logs, interviews, physical inspection where possible.
- Analyse: causal chain, failure modes, drift and systemic contributors.
- Report: clear findings, ranked actions, and explicit limitations.
- Support: follow-up checks if required.
Principles
- No “rubber stamping” decisions.
- We document constraints and disagreements.
- We withdraw if findings are suppressed or outcomes are pre-determined.
Sectors
Where consequences, regulation, and complexity collide.
Industrial & facilities
Complex plant, building services, safety systems, and operational change control.
Manufacturing & supply chain
Process risk, consumables/spec alignment, repeat failures and drift.
Regulated / safety-critical
High consequence environments requiring traceability, evidence, and disciplined governance.
About
Aiken Engineering Assurance is built around safety-critical engineering practice: disciplined evidence, clear reporting, and ethical escalation.
Background
Experience across military aviation, defence aerospace and industrial engineering operations, with a focus on investigation, governance, and preventing repeat failures. Work is approached with a UK professional standards mindset: traceability, clarity, and responsibility.
Professional development
- Continuing Professional Development (CPD) maintained and recorded.
- Professional registration pursued/maintained in line with UK standards.
- Independent, evidence-led practice and clear boundaries on scope.
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Contact
If you need an investigation, a gap review, or independent technical input, start here.
Initial enquiry
Email and phone placeholders below — swap for your real details.
Email: hello@aikenengineeringassurance.co.uk
Phone: +44 (0)7xxx xxxxxx
Location: Scotland (remote or on-site by agreement)
Note: Please avoid sharing confidential or proprietary information in the first message. We’ll agree scope and confidentiality before any detailed evidence review.
Engagement boundaries
- Work is scoped in writing before starting.
- No statutory sign-off or legal advice is provided.
- Independence is maintained; findings are evidence-based.
- Conflicts of interest are disclosed and mitigated.