The automotive industry is facing one of its greatest challenges: Vehicles are becoming increasingly complex, connected and intelligent. With the increase in electrification, autonomous driving and comprehensive connectivity, the importance of the software used in the vehicle is also growing exponentially. Software quality plays a central role here, as it is the key to safety, reliability and user confidence. But how can we ensure that these systems function flawlessly? The answer lies in comprehensive testing - and this is exactly where we come in as a company.
In this article, we show how our broad range of expertise in the areas of software/system testing, test automation, quality assurance, ASPICE and functional safety can optimally complement and improve your projects.
The test process is at the heart of software development. It ensures that errors are detected and corrected at an early stage. Testing is particularly essential in the automotive industry, as errors can have serious consequences. From module to integration and system testing, we cover all test levels to ensure that the software meets the highest requirements at every stage. This is crucial to guarantee stability and safety throughout the entire life cycle of a vehicle.
The upstream steps, such as requirements engineering, are just as important as the testing itself. This involves reviewing the requirements, usually provided by the customer, and creating the test specification on this basis. Here too, sepp.med is usually an integral part. Our experienced requirements engineers provide support right from the requirements creation stage and actively participate in the reviews, thus making a significant contribution to ensuring that both the developers and the testers have clear and precisely specified requirements. Even before testing can begin, it is essential to create a test specification. We derive one or more test cases from the previously specified requirements (detailed design), which are then tested against later.
Another key component of modern software development that comes into play in our projects is the "Shift Left" approach. With Shift-Left, software tests are integrated into the development process as early as possible, allowing errors to be identified and rectified earlier - this not only saves time and money, but also significantly increases software quality.
Early testing ensures that errors are rectified where they occur: in the early development phases. The various test stages provide a comprehensive safety net.
Module tests: At this stage, each individual software module is tested in isolation. The focus is on whether the individual modules meet the specified requirements and function correctly.Integration tests: This is where the modules are brought together and tested for their cooperation. It is ensured that the interfaces function correctly and that the integration of the modules does not introduce any new errors.System tests: In this phase, the entire software product is tested as a unit. The system test checks the complete functionality and compliance with the requirements under real conditions.Acceptance tests: These tests ensure that the entire software meets the customer's requirements and can be released for use.
The development of modern vehicles and tough SOP deadlines demand speed and precision. Thanks to our many years of experience in test automation, we enable you to drastically reduce test times. Automated tests not only offer more efficient execution, but are also scalable and repeatable, which is essential in today's fast-paced development environment. Our customized solutions ensure that stable results are achieved even with frequent changes in the software.In view of the high complexity and increasing development cycles, the automation of tests is becoming ever more important. Here too, sepp.med works with customers to develop test scripts and even entire tools that function both independently and as building blocks in complex tool chains, thus creating an automation chain.
Advantages of test automation
In addition to many advantages, test automation also poses some challenges. These include:
Initial effort: Setting up and maintaining test automation requires initial effort and resources. Test scripts must be written and adapted to the specific requirements of the project.
Maintenance: When changes are made to the software, the test automation must also be updated regularly to ensure that it continues to deliver valid results.
Provision: The search for and provision of finished and functioning tools that ensure the required functionality as a "standalone solution" or in combination with an existing tool chain.
Quality assurance goes far beyond the execution of tests. We rely on comprehensive process monitoring to ensure that all development steps meet the highest standards. This includes both reviews andtraceability monitoring , which ensures complete traceability of all requirements and tests. For you, this means that the quality of your software is guaranteed at all times - from the first code to the finished product.Quality assurance (QA) goes beyond mere testing and includes all measures taken to ensure the quality of the software. This includes the definition of quality standards, the selection of suitable test methods and tools and the monitoring of the entire development process.
Reviews and inspections: These include the systematic review of specifications, source code and test results by a team in order to identify potential errors at an early stage. Process monitoring: Quality assurance ensures that the development processes follow the defined standards and guidelines, e.g. the specifications from ASPICE (Automotive SPICE) or ISO 26262. Traceability: A central element in quality assurance is the traceability of requirements across design, implementation and testing. Every requirement should be covered by tests and the results of these tests should be documented in a traceable manner.
ASPICE is the standard in the automotive industry for evaluating the maturity and efficiency of development processes. We accompany our customers on their way to a higher process maturity level by creating clear structures and ensuring compliance with defined processes. With our extensive experience in the field of ASPICE, we support you in optimizing your development processes and thus sustainably increasing not only software quality but also efficiency. ASPICE (Automotive Software Process Improvement and Capability dEtermination) is a process model that was developed specifically for the automotive industry. It defines a framework for evaluating and improving software development processes and helps to increase their quality and efficiency.
Important aspects of ASPICE
Process maturity: ASPICE assesses the maturity level of processes on a scale from 0 (incomplete) to 5 (optimized). A high maturity level means that the development process is well structured, documented and optimized.
Process orientation: ASPICE attaches great importance to the definition of clear processes and compliance with them. This includes the planning, execution and monitoring of software development and testing activities.
Roles and responsibilities: ASPICE defines clear roles and responsibilities within the development process to ensure that everyone involved knows what they are responsible for. We at sepp.med consider it very important that external experts look at the processes required by ASPICE. In our experience, those responsible for individual processes are not able to take an "assessor's" view and therefore the processes are often not implemented in the required depth. In our view, another advantage is to deal with ASPICE at the start of the project and to set up the required processes at an early stage. Especially at the end of a project, there is often not enough time and/or capacity to tighten up the processes or even set them up from scratch. Our ASPICE assessors provide support in carrying out a so-called GAP analysis and create a report that shows the gaps that prevent a targeted ASPICE level from being achieved. Of course, we also provide support in further steps to close these gaps and prepare the customer for an assessment in the best possible way.
Functional safety plays a particularly important role in the area of safety-critical systems, such as brakes or driver assistance systems . Thanks to our extensive expertise in implementing the ISO 26262 standard, we support you in developing safety-relevant systems in such a way that they function reliably even in the event of a fault. With special verification and validation tests, we ensure that risks are minimized and the highest safety standards are met.
Risk analysis: First, a comprehensive risk analysis is carried out to identify potential hazards that could arise from errors in the software.
Safety requirements: Based on the risk analysis, safety requirements are defined to ensure that the system functions safely even in the event of an error (e.g. through redundant systems or failsafe mechanisms).
Verification and validation: Special verification and validation tests are used to check that the safety requirements are met. These tests ensure that the system is safe under all intended operating conditions.
Complexity: Ensuring functional safety requires a comprehensive analysis and testing of all potential risks and sources of error in the system.
High demands on test coverage: Systems that fulfill safety-critical functions must be tested intensively. This also includes testing error scenarios and exceptional operating conditions.
Our strength lies in the combination of specialist knowledge, experience and a deep understanding of the challenges facing the automotive industry. With our tailor-made solutions, we help you not only to meet current requirements, but also to be ready for future developments. From test automation to quality assurance to ASPICE and functional safety: We accompany you through every step of software development. Our sepp.med colleagues mostly work in teams and are trained according to the above-mentioned stages such as project management, requirements engineering, software development, testing and regulatory consulting and have several years of experience. In this way, we ensure that we cover all components and can therefore take on and implement entire trades 100% independentlyTogether, we create the basis for innovative, safe and reliable vehicles that meet the challenges of modern mobility.
If you have any questions or would like to find out more about our services, we are always available and look forward to talking to you.
Let us shape the mobility of tomorrow - we do digitalization, but safely.
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