The technique of Hazard and Operability Studies, or in more common terms HAZOPS, has been used and developed over approximately four decades for 'identifying potential hazards and operability problems' caused by 'deviations from the design intent' of both new and existing process plants. Before progressing further, it might be as well to clarify some aspects of these statements.
"A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a
person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as
possible" - Freeman Dyson