Coping with Verification in Complex Engineered Product Development

Abstract

Coping with system verification in complex systems is a challenging task. This paper reports on how the high complexity of closely integrated systems and long timelines in development affects the verification process in an engineering company in Norway. The literature on verification in development and a survey within the industry-as-laboratory method were used to research the practice of verification in the case company to identify where the company’s practice deviates from the recommended practice according to the literature. The research found that the company is taking shortcuts in its documented processes resulting in integration testing late in the develop-ment. The authors propose the use of metrics to monitor the progress of the system of interest and the project. In conclusion, continuously tracking and improving the work process is recommended to cope with the complexity of developing the company products.