System Validation and Verification

Historically, the terms validation and verification have been very loosely defined in the system engineering world, with predictable confusion. Few hardware or software testing texts even touch upon validation and verification, despite the fact that, properly employed, these test tools offer system and test engineers powerful techniques for identifying and solving problems early in the design process. Together, validation and verification encompass testing, analysis, demonstration, and examination methods used to determine whether a proposed design will satisfy system requirements. System Validation and Verification clear definitions of the terms and detailed information on using these fundamental tools for problem solving. It smoothes the transition between requirements and design by providing methods for evaluating the ability of a given approach to satisfy demanding technical requirements. With this book, system and test engineers and project managers gain confidence in their designs and lessen the likelihood of serious problems cropping up late in the program. In addition to explanations of the theories behind the concepts, the book includes practical methods for each step of the process, examples from the author's considerable experience, and illustrations and tables to support the ideas. Although not primarily a textbook, System Validation and Verification is based in part on validation and verification courses taught by the author and is an excellent supplemental reference for engineering students. In addition to its usefulness to system engineers, the book will be valuable to a wider audience including manufacturing, design, software , and risk management project engineers - anyone involved in large systems design projects.

IN THE BEGINNING
Requirements
The Two Vs
The Foundation of System Engineering
System Development Phasing Overview
Toward a Standard Process
Development Environments
System Requirements Analysis
Validation Overview
Verification Overview
Process V&V
References
VALIDATION BEFORE AND DURING SYNTHESIS
Validation and Risk
The Validation Time Span
Avoiding a Null Solution Space
Validation Process Overview
Validation Responsibility and Leadership
Validation Expectations
Validation Methods
Product Representations
Whole Program Phases
PRODUCT REPRESENTATIONS CONTROL
The Many Views of the Product
Representation Identification
Representation Management
Representations Documentation
VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Verification Documentation
Item Planning Fundamentals
Verification Requirements Analysis
Verification Planning, Data Capture, and Documentation
Section 4 Structure
Verification Computer Database
TOP-DOWN VERIFICATION PLANNING
A Matter of Scale
Expansion of Function F4
Item Qualification Process
Qualification Process Implementation
Specific Task Processes
Program Task Structuring
ITEM QUALIFICATION TEST PLANNING ANALYSIS
Overview
Qualification Test Program Planning
Item Planning Cycle
Integrated Verification Plan Test Integration
Special Problems in Verification through Test
Product-Specific Test Planning
Commercial Subset
ITEM QUALIFICATION TEST IMPLEMENTATION
Implementation Responsibility and Organizational Structure
General Coordination Activities
Individual Test Coordination
Intertest and Intermethod Coordination
Qualification Test Sequencing
First Production Article Integration
NONTEST QUALIFICATION METHODS COORDINATION
Other Methods and Meanings
Nontest Verification Responsibility
Nontest Documentation
Analysis
Demonstration
Examination
ITEM QUALIFICATION VERIFICATION MANAGEMENT AND AUDIT
Setting the Management Stage
The Management Agent
Documentation Overview
Task Integration and Scheduling
Task Readiness Review and Task Authorization
Evaluation and Refinement of Evidence
Staging the FCA
Presentation of the Qualification Results, the Audit
Postaudit Action
Information Resources
SYSTEM VERIFICATION
System Verification Overview
System Verification Audit
System Test Planning
System-Level Testing and Analysis Implementation
Other Forms of System Testing
ACCEPTANCE TEST PLANNING ANALYSIS
The Notion of Acceptance
Where Are the Requirements?
How Do Detailed Requirements Differ from Development Requirements?
Conversion to Verification Requirements
Acceptance Test Planning, Procedures, and Results Data Collection
Associate Contractor Relationships
Manufacturing or Test-and-Evaluation-Driven Acceptance Testing
Information Management
Coordination between Acceptance Testing and Special Test Equipment (STE)
Relationship between Technical Data and Acceptance
Postdelivery Testing Applications
Intercontinental Acceptance
NONTEST ITEM ACCEPTANCE METHODS COORDINATION
Organizational Responsibilities
The Coordination Task
Acceptance Task Matrix
Examination Cases
Demonstration Cases
Analysis Cases
PRODUCT VERIFICATION MANAGEMENT AND AUDIT
The Second Stage of Verification
The Beginning of Acceptance Verification
The Basis of Acceptance
Acceptance Documentation
Management of the Work
FRACAS
Physical Configuration Audit
Software Acceptance
PROCESS VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION
Is There a Difference?
Process Validation
Program Process Design
Process Verification
Organizational Possibilities
POSTSCRIPT
Postscript Plan
Closure on Meanings
Hopes for Balanced Treatment
Information Opportunities
The Role of the System Engineer
Singling Up the WBS Lines
Focusing on the Whole
INDEX