System Validation and Verification: (12 Systems Engineering)

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.

Table of Contents:
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