Lesson 1 – Background of product design and validation process

Introduction:

  • Modern industrial entities are characterized by their large scale and global production of standardized components, equipment, and software.
  • The diverse stages in the value creation process have evolved to be optimized individually.

Segmentation of Value Creation Process:

  1. Design of Product: The initial step where a product’s blueprint is conceived.
  2. Production: The actual making of the product based on the design.
  3. Validation: Ensuring the product aligns with its intended function and meets specified standards.

Need for Process Guidelines:

  • With global dispersion, the industry introduced structured instructions and guidelines.
  • These guidelines streamline operations, elevate the success rate, and curb developmental expenses.
  • Among these, the V-Model stands prominent and is widely adopted.

Deep Dive: The V-Model:

  • Visual Representation: Picture the letter “V”. On the left are requirements, and on the right, the development stages with associated tests.
  • Objective:
    1. Ensure the product aligns with the stipulated requirement.
    2. Guarantee that the development process is apt and adheres to stipulated norms.
  • Validation and Verification: Two pivotal pillars of the V-Model.
    1. Validation: Does the product align with its real-life application?
    2. Verification: Is the product developed correctly in line with legislation, company norms, and standards?

User Requirements Specification (URS):

  • A pivotal document that captures:
    1. The product’s purpose.
    2. How the product will achieve its purpose.
  • Sources of requirements:
    1. End-users, e.g., a vehicle’s driver.
    2. Legal directives, like regional safety standards.

Validation and its Importance:

  • Each stipulated requirement must correspond to a specific test.
  • The test determines if the product aligns with the stipulated requirement.
  • The rigor of these tests and the validation process depends on the industrial segment.

Automotive Industry Insight:

  • Has a regimented validation process governed by industry standards.
  • Some standards are legally binding while others are recommendations.

Beyond the Basics – Electric Drives:

  • Electric drives are more than just fulfilling legal and user requirements.
  • They present a window into myriad fascinating physical occurrences.
  • Within an electric drive system, almost every field of physics is crucial, complemented by software and control design.

Conclusion:

  • The V-Model, through its structured approach, ensures products are developed to be in sync with both their intended purpose and the process’s correctness.
  • Standards and guidelines, while serving as a blueprint, also pave the way for fascinating innovations in fields like electric drives.
Figure The V-model

Figure The V-model

Go back