AUTOMOTIVE SPICE®
About to tackle the challenges of Automotive SPICE®? Need help? Allow us to support you as experts in Automotive SPICE®. We’ll provide you with professional and practical support. From advisory services to preparation, process improvements and even training and assessments.
Automotive SPICE® – WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?
Automotive SPICE® is an established framework used in the development of control units. It helps improve and assess processes. This industry standard was developed for software assessments in 2005 based on ISO 3300x and has been adapted to the requirements of the automotive sector. Automotive SPICE® is also used in other areas of industry such as the development of construction machines, tools and refrigerators.
The Automotive SPICE® model comprises a structured collection of best practice examples from vehicle development.
Automotive suppliers are given support to
- Raise the standards of their systems
- Establish processes
- Manage schedule pressures
- Cope with the increasing complexity of systems
- Deal with changes requested by customers
THE REFERENCE MODEL COMPRISES
A PROCESS reference MODEL
Automotive SPICE® makes it possible to monitor and systematically enhance development processes in the software-based development of automotive electronics.
A PROCESS ASSESSMENT MODEL
By using Automotive SPICE®, companies can also assess their own processes or the processes of their suppliers. These assessments can then be compared to the model.
Over 100 corporate customers on four continents bank on our experience.
Automotive SPICE®? We’re the experts!
We currently have 48 intacs™-certified assessors. These include ten instructors on Provisional and Competent Level.
Automotive SPICE®? We’re the experts!
As a peer reviewer, we have been continually involved in the process of designing standards since 2005. We also co-authored plug-ins for mechanical engineering and hardware engineering with intacs™.
Automotive SPICE®? We’re the experts!
We have written multiple editions of »Automotive SPICE® in Practice«, already an industry classic.
Automotive SPICE®? We’re the experts!
Benefit from over 200 people-years of cumulative project experience, often involving improvement programmes lasting several years.
Automotive SPICE®? We’re the experts!
We have now trained more than 1000 assessors according to intacs™ guidelines.
Automotive SPICE®? We’re the experts!
We have conducted over 200 assessments since 2007, on both a project and an organisational level. That is equivalent to 10,000 assessment-hours.
Automotive SPICE®? We’re the experts!
SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT IN KEEPING WITH VDA SCOPE
The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) has laid down sixteen key processes going by the name VDA Scope. The starting point for VDA Scope is software-based systems development. Apart from addressing development processes, it also deals with management and support processes such as procurement and project management.
To make the most of Automotive SPICE® applied to the development of mechatronic systems, it is designed to be used as a plug-in model. As a result, development processes dealing with other disciplines of engineering can also be added. The experts at Kugler Maag Cie were closely involved in the development of this plug-in.
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Automotive SPICE as part of VDA Scope
THE KEY PROCESSES OF VDA SCOPE
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Standard Scope
Extended Scope
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Extended Scope
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Extended Scope
PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS WITH AUTOMOTIVE SPICE®
If a sequence of tasks is adhered to or a corresponding process becomes part and parcel of everyday project practice, this can be measured. To do this, Automotive SPICE® uses ‘levels’, which describe the achieved capability level of a process. All processes can be placed on a level, ranging from zero to five. To reach a certain level, the required elements of the Automotive SPICE® model have to be implemented appropriately.
ASSESSMENTS ARE USED TO EVALUATE CAPABILITIES
Numerous automotive companies use Automotive SPICE® to assess their suppliers and judge risk. Their suppliers have to confirm that they have ticked certain boxes – or achieved certain ‘process maturity’ in relevant areas. The assessment checks whether a company’s processes have reached the desired level. It also examines strengths and weaknesses and makes recommendations regarding potential improvements. Assessments are only recognised by the automotive industry if they have been carried out by specialists. To train these specialists, the VDA employs a system called intacs™.
Systems engineering in conjunction with software, hardware and mechanical development: In this pocket guide, you will find all the key processes you need for the integrated and coordinated development of mechatronic systems in ground vehicles.
We are a founding member of intacs™ (the International Assessor Certification Scheme). The intacs™ initiative dovetails with Automotive SPICE® to safeguard common standards laid down by the German automotive industry for the training and certification of assessors.
Apart from using the right procedures, companies often also need to undergo a cultural change before they rise to the required level. But improving anything takes time. For example, it generally takes between three and five years to implement the measures required to enshrine Level 3 principles within a larger development unit and ensure they are sustainable.
LITERATURE AND PRACTICAL SUPPORT
Automotive SPICE® in Practice: This guide on improving processes and conducting assessments according to Automotive SPICE® is a standard work for helping users and assessors interpret the model. The manual was drafted by two experts at Kugler Maag Cie, Markus Müller and Dr Klaus Hörmann, with the support of Jörg Zimmer and Lars Dittmann. A further short guide has been written by Bhaskar Vanamali and Dr Klaus Hörmann: Automotive SPICE® essentials at a glance.
Our aim with these publications is to provide you with practical support in using Automotive SPICE® in everyday situations. There is also a poster that provides a useful overview as well as a pocket guide that can be used for quick access to all key information.
AUTOMOTIVE SPICE® IN PRACTICE
A standard work on using Automotive SPICE® in practice – the second edition of this handy guide for users and assessors on interpreting Automotive SPICE®. This book has been thoroughly revised based on the new Version 3 of Automotive SPICE®.
In introducing and implementing Automotive SPICE®, it is important to develop solutions in keeping with any specific circumstances that may affect a project or the situation faced by the company as a whole. This specialist manual equips you with an understanding of how to use the standard to solve a specific task. Used as an interpretation guide, it enables you to improve procedures effectively in keeping with Automotive SPICE® standards.
It also provides you with uniform assessment benchmarks. The structure of the manual corresponds to the structure of the standard.
The 2nd edition was updated in line with Automotive SPICE® v3.0. The picture is completed by looking at current topics such as practical assessments in keeping with intacs™ and VDA requirements, the challenges of process improvements, and AGILE DEVELOPMENT and FUNCTIONAL SAFETY ACCORDING TO ISO 26262.
- 2nd revised and expanded edition
- Publisher: dpunkt
- 350 pages with numerous colour charts
- Hardback edition
- German
Automotive SPICE® Essentials
Process improvements made easy: part of our essentials series, this concise guide provides you with a quick overview of the requirements laid down by Automotive SPICE®. As well as describing what you can expect to happen during an assessment, it also shows how the reference model relates to other standards and models, using examples such as FUNCTIONAL SAFETY (ISO 26262) and AGILE METHODS like Scrum and Kanban.
The first chapter explains the underlying idea behind Automotive SPICE® with an introduction to the model and a discussion of commercial issues. The second chapter looks at the structure and subject matter of the model. As experienced assessors and practitioners, not only do the authors explain the structure behind the model and how these relate to each other, they also provide practical tips.
Chapter three then goes into key processes in detail. The authors outline the core processes that are relevant to automotive companies and their suppliers. They also provide a number of insights into the issues that arise when using Automotive SPICE®, many of which are based on over a decade of personal experience with the model. The fourth chapter focuses on assessments and their use in systematically evaluating the process quality of organisations. The authors explain the approach used, key roles and any preparations that should be made before a typical assessment.
In the final chapter, the authors examine how Automotive SPICE® can be integrated into other models and approaches, such as functional safety according to ISO 26262 and agile methods and practices.
This book provides you with an overview of all key facts, thus allowing you to make an informed decision on whether Automotive SPICE® could make effective improvements to processes used at your company.
OVERVIEW
- Automotive SPICE® – key facts at a glance: the underlying concept, application, financial benefits, introducing Automotive SPICE®
- The structures of the Automotive SPICE® v3.1 process assessment model and topics covered
- Automotive SPICE® processes (VDA Scope)
- Assessments
- Similarities to other models/approaches
This essential guide is available in English.
The Guide for Automotive SPICE® Interpretation
In the development of automotive electronics, quality not only impacts the product, but is also based on structured workflows. Automotive SPICE offers a widely used reference model for this. This formulates high-level requirements which the processes have to fulfill, in particular documentation. Misunderstandings often arise during their interpretation: For example, it is not self-explanatory how extensive an output work product actually has to be in order to fulfill the process purpose.
That is why four experts from three continents have put their heads together and written a book giving advice on the application and understanding of the Automotive SPICE process reference model. In this compact book, practitioners learn what to know, even if it's not in the quasi-standard. The authors get to the heart of things and, where necessary, refer to further sources of knowledge. The 16 processes from the VDA scope are presented in such a way that users can implement the process requirements in a target-oriented manner and assessors can evaluate them correctly. For each core process, this book explains which misunderstandings and pitfalls can lurk during understanding and implementation and thus helps to really understand Automotive SPICE.
OVERVIEW
Interpretation of
- Automotive SPICE® processes (VDA scope)
- Generic topics
- Capability levels
Guidance for
- Advanced assessment strategies
- Cultural fit for oversea assessments
This essential guide is available in English.
THE ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE SPICE® POCKET GUIDE
Handy in every pocket: the Automotive SPICE® Pocket Guide contains all key components of Automotive SPICE® in a practical, compact format. As well as covering VDA Scope, it also contains other processes considered important for everyday use with OEM assessments. For each process, it looks at the purpose, outcomes, output work products, base practices with notes, and generic practices from Level 1 to 3 – with the aim of providing the most compact overview possible. This makes the Automotive SPICE® Pocket Guide an indispensable tool not just in everyday situations at work, but also during assessments.
- 106 pages
- Ring-bound
- Practical tabs
- This pocket guide is available in English.
Click here to download the original Automotive SPICE® pocket guide as a PDF.
This guide is also available as a spiral-bound hard copy, complete with index punches, in the web shop.
AUTOMOTIVE SPICE® goes Mechatronics POCKET GUIDE
This pocket guide is aimed at practitioners in the field of developing mechatronic systems for vehicles: project managers, developers and engineers who want to improve their workflows and coordinate collaboration across the board. With plug-ins for the mechanical engineering and hardware engieering they can now use the Automotive SPICE® process reference model established in system and software development as a uniform framework for the development of complete mechatronic systems.
- 132 pages
- Ring-bound
- Practical tabs
Click here to download the Automotive SPICE® goes Mechatronics pocket guide as a PDF.
This guide is also available as a spiral-bound hard copy, complete with index punches, in the web shop.
AUTOMOTIVE SPICE® AND THE AGILE POCKET GUIDE
Part of the Agile in Automotive series, Automotive SPICE® and Agile provides you with useful support if you would like to apply agile methods to electronics development.
Drawing on pertinent processes, the pocket guide explains how to use agile development methods and practices in accordance with Automotive SPICE®.
- 120 pages
- Ring-bound
- This pocket guide is available in English.
AUTOMOTIVE SPICE® POSTER
This poster shows the structure behind Automotive SPICE® v3 in the extended VDA Scope.
- Process areas and processes including base practices
- Generic practices (Level 1 - 3)
- Automotive SPICE® as a basis for functional safety (ISO 26262)
- Traceability using the V-model
- Capability Level
Go to the website to order a hard copy of the poster.
To download the poster as a PDF instead, click here.
Need support with a key project? We’re your first port of call when it comes to management consulting and improvement programmes in electronics development.
Steffen Herrmann and the sales team
WE CAN SUPPORT YOU WITH…
- Achieving the required capabiltiy levels within your key processes in development
- Systematically improving existing workflows and methods
- Evaluating the status of your process improvements through formal assessments and gap analysis
- Fulfilling the requirements of Automotive SPICE® in harmony with SECURITY, FUNCTIONAL SAFETY and AGILE METHODS
- Training your staff and assessors
