What is Automotive Life Cycle Testing?

by Rahul G. Founder

The life cycle is a term that defines change from one form to another that happens sequentially. Every entity goes through a life cycle from its origin to its demise. Similarly, the software is also an entity with a development life cycle called the software development life cycle (SDLC). Just as if the development of software has different specific sequential steps, testing also follows a similar pattern.

Life cycle testing or software automotive life cycle testing (SATLC) is a process of testing that consists of several specific testing procedures to be executed in a definite sequence to ensure a set quality standard of a product or software. There are many companies, which specifically provide life cycle testing services.

Every organization has its different phases of the Software automotive life cycle testing, but the basis is of every life cycle testing remains the same. Eight phases of life cycle testing are as follows:

1. Requirement phase:

The scope of the testing is analysed in this phase of life cycle testing. A group of experts sit together and study all the requirements, later they conduct brainstorm sessions to discuss whether the software requirements are testable or not. If any requirement is not testable, it is communicated to develop a more refined strategy.

2. Planning phase:

In this phase, the actual planning for testing is done after the experts are done analysing requirements. The procedures, techniques, resources, metrics that would help to meet the objectives are identified to execute an efficient testing life cycle. Planning is done keeping in mind the factors like organization test strategy and risk analysis.

3. Analysis phase:

This is a very important phase of product life cycle testing. Test conditions to be put are identified in this phase with the help of requirement document and product risk analysis. A test condition must trace back to the requirement. Different factors like levels of testing, depth of testing, product complexity, project risks, test management, SDLC, and availability of stockholders affects the identification of test conditions.

4. Design phase:

This is the “HOW” phasing of the automotive life cycle testing. This phase determines the practical execution process aspects of the testing life cycle. Processes like breaking down test conditions into easily executable multiple small sub test conditions, identification and gathering of test data, identification and setting up of test environment, creation of traceability matrices, and test coverage metrics are ensured in this phase of the testing life cycle.

5. Implementation phase:

The major process involved in this phase of the software testing life cycle is to ensure the creation of detailed test cases. Priority test cases that will become the part of the regression suite are also identified in this phase along with the review of test cases to ensure that test cases are correct.

6. Execution phase:

The name of this phase is self-explanatory. In this phase, the actual execution of test cases takes place. It is made sure that the entry criterion is met before the start of execution. The output of these tests determines whether the software qualifies all the test conditions. Test cases are executed and the defects raised are logged in case of any discrepancy. Traceability matrix developed bits of help in tracking the progress of the software testing life cycle.

7. Conclusion phase

Exit criteria and reporting are the focus areas of this phase of the software testing life cycle. A daily or weekly report is sent depending upon the project and stakeholders’ choice. Daily status reports and weekly status reports are depending upon the requirements of the product life cycle testing. The content of these reports focuses on the person to whom the report is sent. If the report is sent to the project manager, he is more likely to be interested in the technical aspects of the report whereas if the report is sent to stakeholders, he is more likely to be interested in the risk aspects.

8. Closure phase:

A task like completion of the test check, check that there are no open severity 1 defects, or the check that all the tests are executed and mitigated deliberately are part of this phase of the testing life cycle. In addition, the aspects and insight report on what was good about the Software testing life cycle and what could be improved about it are created in this phase of the testing life cycle.