SG 1 Prepare for Product Integration
Preparation for product integration is conducted.
Preparing for integration of product components involves establishing and maintaining an integration sequence, the environment for performing the integration, and integration procedures. The specific
practices of the Prepare for Product Integration specific goal build on each other in the following way. The first specific practice determines the sequence for product and product-component integration. The
second determines the environment that will be used to carry out the product and product-component integration. The third develops procedures and criteria for product and product-component integration.
Preparation for integration starts early in the project and the integration sequence is developed concurrently with the practices in the Technical Solution process area.
SP 1.1 Determine Integration Sequence
Determine the product-component integration sequence.
The product components that are integrated may include those that are a part of the product to be delivered along with test equipment, test software, or other integration items such as fixtures. Once you have
analyzed alternative test and assembly integration sequences, select the best integration sequence.
The product integration sequence can provide for incremental assembly and evaluation of product components that provide a problem-free foundation for incorporation of other product components as they
become available, or for prototypes of high-risk product components.
The integration sequence should be harmonized with the selection of solutions and the design of product and product components in the Technical Solution process area.
Typical Work Products
1. Product integration sequence
2. Rationale for selecting or rejecting integration sequences
Subpractices
1. Identify the product components to be integrated.
2. Identify the product integration verifications to be performed using
the definition of the interfaces between the product components.
3. Identify alternative product-component integration sequences.
This can include defining the specific tools and test equipment to support the product integration.
4. Select the best integration sequence.
5. Periodically review the product integration sequence and revise as needed.
Assess the product integration sequence to ensure that variations in production and delivery schedules have not had an adverse impact on the sequence or compromised the factors upon which earlier decisions were made.
6. Record the rationale for decisions made and deferred.
SP 1.2 Establish the Product Integration Environment
Establish and maintain the environment needed to support the integration of the product components.
The environment for product integration can either be acquired or developed. To establish an environment, requirements for the purchase or development of equipment, software, or other resources will need to
be developed. These requirements are gathered when implementing the processes associated with the Requirements Development process area. The product integration environment may include the reuse of
existing organizational resources. The decision to acquire or develop the product integration environment is addressed in the processes associated with the Technical Solution process area.
The environment required at each step of the product integration process may include test equipment, simulators (taking the place of nonavailable product components), pieces of real equipment, and
recording devices.
Typical Work Products
1. Verified environment for product integration
2. Support documentation for the product integration environment
Subpractices
1. Identify the requirements for the product integration environment.
2. Identify verification criteria and procedures for the product integration environment.
3. Decide whether to make or buy the needed product integration environment.
4. Develop an integration environment if a suitable environment cannot be acquired.
For unprecedented, complex projects, the product integration environment can be a major development. As such, it would involve project planning, requirements development, technical solutions, verification, validation, and risk management.
5. Maintain the product integration environment throughout the project.
6. Dispose of those portions of the environment that are no longer useful.
SP 1.3 Establish Product Integration Procedures and Criteria
Establish and maintain procedures and criteria for integration of the product components.
Procedures for the integration of the product components can include such things as the number of incremental iterations to be performed and details of the expected tests and other evaluations to be carried out at each stage.
Criteria can indicate the readiness of a product component for integration or its acceptability.
Procedures and criteria for product integration address the following:
· Level of testing for build components
· Verification of interfaces
· Thresholds of performance deviation
· Derived requirements for the assembly and its external interfaces
· Allowable substitutions of components
· Testing environment parameters
· Limits on cost of testing
· Quality/cost tradeoffs for integration operations
· Probability of proper functioning
· Delivery rate and its variation
· Lead time from order to delivery
· Personnel availability
· Availability of the integration facility/line/environment
Criteria can be defined for how the product components are to be verified and the functions they are expected to have. Criteria can be defined for how the assembled product components and final integrated
product are to be validated and delivered.
Criteria may also constrain the degree of simulation permitted for a product component to pass a test, or may constrain the environment to be used for the integration test.
For Supplier Sourcing
Pertinent parts of the schedule and criteria for assembly should be shared with suppliers of work products to reduce the occurrence of delays and component failure.
Typical Work Products
1. Product integration procedures
2. Product integration criteria
Subpractices
1. Establish and maintain product integration procedures for the product components.
2. Establish and maintain criteria for product-component integration and evaluation.
3. Establish and maintain criteria for validation and delivery of the integrated product.
