Vector Achieves SPICE Level 3

The Embedded Software Components business area at Vector Informatik GmbH achieved process maturity level 3 during a HIS-conformant assessment.

Vector Informatik GmbH is continuously improving its processes. Motivating this effort are customer satisfaction, quality improvements and efficiency gains. In the context of a HIS-conformant assessment according to ISO/IEC TR 15504 the development department for embedded software components achieved the excellent SPICE Level 3. The Stuttgart-based company is currently one of the few suppliers of embedded software components that can deliver processes at this SPICE maturity level. Vector customers can be assured that they are getting technically innovative solutions that fulfill high quality standards. The process assessment was conducted by MB-technology GmbH in October 2005.



The range of assessed processes covers the HIS-Scope based on ISO/IEC TR 15504. Within the framework of the HIS-Scope the following processes are relevant to the Vector Embedded Components business area:

• Software Requirements Analysis serves to establish software requirements as a basis for design and as a input for testing. The scope of work is defined together with the customer.
  
  
• Software Design derives a documentation from the requirements, which is the basis for implementation. Therefore requirements allocated to architectural elements and their dependencies are described. Furthermore the architectural elements are defined. The technical solution for the requested properties is refined in a stepwise manner.
  
  
• Software Construction implements the design in programs with respect to the given architecture. In programming, internal rules and MISRA guidelines (Motor Industry Software Reliability Association) are taken into account, and it is determined which deviations are necessary. Specified tests are used to test the requirements allocated to the program. Reusable programs are the outcome of this process.
  
  
• Software Integration joins the programs together according to the description of the architecture. The integrated software is automatically tested according the allocated requirements. Reusable programs are combined to form customer-specific software package and are tested.
  
  

• Project Management identifies, plans and tracks the tasks, resources and tools necessary for the project and their usage. Planning and tracking of when projects must be completed are implemented under consideration of specific customer requirements. Satisfying the many different customer wishes by means of adaptable and efficient standard software represents a special challenge. Handling of customer-specific projects is monitored with eASEE, a software tool from Vector Consulting GmbH. eASEE is designed to make technical business processes manageable.
  
  
• Configuration Management ensures that software baselines and associated documents, tools and files are consistent. All relevant work products are managed within a configuration management environment that guarantees the integrity of the software project baselines.
  
  
• Quality Assurance is planned as part of the projects. Monitoring ensures that activities and processes are implemented properly, timely and fully. In the Vector Embedded Components business area certain types of projects recur frequently. These project types have been identified. Processes and methods have been tailored for these types which can be repeated easily. This enables the establishment of efficient quality processes and accepted tool support within the organization.
  
  
• Problem Resolution ensures that in case of an error all affected work products are identified, corrected and checked. This process is not part of the underlying HIS-Scope. However it was addressed since it will be part of the new HIS-Scope according to Automotive SPICE^TM.

The following HIS processes are not relevant to the Vector Embedded Components business area in this context:

• System Requirements Analysis and Design since the Vector Embedded Components business area delivers software components.
  
  
• Software Testing can only be applied to the Vector Embedded Components business area in a limited manner, because it does not deliver a finished software product, rather a highly configurable software package. This configuration is defined by the customer (supplier or OEM) and depends greatly on the OEM's network configuration. This means that no testing of the finished software product can be performed yet at the Vector Embedded Components business area. The software testing process is fully covered as an integration test and component test in the Software Construction process.
  
  
• System Integration was not assessed, because the Vector Embedded Components business area supplies software components.
  
  
• Supplier Monitoring was not an object of the assessment, since the Vector Embedded Components business area does not have to manage suppliers.