Assemble Product Components and Deliver the Product
Verified product components are assembled and the integrated, verified, and validated product is delivered.
Integration of product components proceeds according to the product integration sequence and available procedures. Before integration, each product component should be confirmed to be compliant with its
interface requirements. Product components are assembled into larger, more complex product components. These assembled product components are checked for correct interoperation. This process continues until product integration is complete. If, during this process, problems are identified, the problem should be documented and a corrective action process initiated.
Ensure that the assembly of the product components into larger and more complex product components is conducted according to the product integration sequence and available procedures. The timely receipt of needed product components and the involvement of the right people contribute to the successful integration of the product components that compose the product.
SP 3.1 Confirm Readiness of Product Components for Integration
Confirm, prior to assembly, that each product component required to assemble the product has been properly identified, functions according to its description, and that the product-component interfaces comply with the interface descriptions.
The purpose of this specific practice is to ensure that the properly identified product component that meets its description can actually be assembled according to the product integration sequence and available
procedures. The product components are checked for quantity, obvious damage, and consistency between the product component and interface descriptions.
Those conducting product integration are ultimately responsible for checking to make sure everything is proper with the product components before assembly.
Typical Work Products
1. Acceptance documents for the received product components
2. Delivery receipts
3. Checked packing lists
4. Exception reports
5. Waivers
Subpractices
1. Track the status of all product components as soon as they become available for integration.
2. Ensure that product components are delivered to the product integration environment in accordance with the product integration sequence and available procedures.
3. Confirm the receipt of each properly identified product component.
4. Ensure that each received product component meets its description.
5. Check the configuration status against the expected configuration.
6. Perform pre-check (for example, by a visual inspection and using basic measures) of all the physical interfaces before connecting product components together.
SP 3.2 Assemble Product Components
Assemble product components according to the product integration sequence and available procedures.
(For users of the continuous representation, this is a capability level 1 specific practice. Product integration processes at capability level 1 or 2 may not include procedures and criteria, which are created in the
Establish Product Integration Procedures and Criteria specific practice at capability level 3. When there are no procedures or criteria established, use the sequence established by the Determine Integration
Sequence specific practice to accomplish capability level 1 performance.) The assembly activities of this specific practice and the evaluation activities of the next specific practice are conducted iteratively, from the
initial product components, through the interim assemblies of product components, to the product as a whole.
For Supplier Sourcing
The project should exercise reasonable oversight of these assembly processes. The supplier agreements should specify appropriate oversight for critical components.
Typical Work Products
1. Assembled product or product components
Subpractices
1. Ensure the readiness of the product integration environment.
2. Ensure that the assembly sequence is properly performed.
Record all appropriate information (e.g., configuration status, serial numbers of the product components, types, and calibration date of the meters).
3. Revise the product integration sequence and available procedures as appropriate.
SP 3.3 Evaluate Assembled Product Components
Evaluate assembled product components for interface compatibility. This evaluation involves examining and testing assembled product components for performance, suitability, or readiness using the available procedures and environment. It is performed as appropriate for different stages of assembly of product components as identified in the product integration sequence and available procedures. The product integration sequence and available procedures may define a more refined integration and evaluation sequence than might be envisioned just by examining the product architecture. For example, if
an assembly of product components is composed of four less complex product components, the integration sequence will not necessarily call for the simultaneous integration and evaluation of the four units as one.
Rather, the four less complex units may be integrated progressively, one at a time, with an evaluation after each assembly operation prior to realizing the more complex product component that matched the
specification in the product architecture. Alternatively, the integration sequence and available procedures could have determined that only a final evaluation was the best one to perform.
Typical Work Products
1. Exception reports
2. Interface evaluation reports
3. Product integration summary reports
Subpractices
1. Conduct the evaluation of assembled product components following the product integration sequence and available procedures.
2. Record the evaluation results.
Example results include the following:
· Any adaptation required to the integration procedure
· Any change to the product configuration (spare parts, new release)
· Evaluation procedure deviations
SP 3.4 Package and Deliver the Product or Product Component
Package the assembled product or product component and deliver it to the appropriate customer.
The packaging requirements for some products may be addressed in their specifications and verification criteria. This is especially important when items are stored and transported by the customer. In such cases,
there may be a spectrum of environmental and stress conditions specified for the package. In other circumstances, factors such as the following may become important:
· Economy and ease of transportation (e.g., containerization)
· Accountability (e.g., shrinkwrapping)
· Ease and safety of unpacking (e.g., sharp edges, strength of binding methods, childproofing, environmental friendliness of packing material, weight)
The adjustment required to fit product components together in the factory could be different from the one required to fit product components when installed on the operational site. In that case, the product's logbook for the customer should be used to record such specific parameters.
Typical Work Products
1. Packaged product or product components
2. Delivery documentation
Subpractices
1. Review the requirements, design, product, verification results, and documentation to ensure that issues affecting the packaging and delivery of the product are identified and resolved.
2. Use effective methods to package and deliver the assembled product.
For Software Engineering
Examples of software packaging and delivery methods include the following:
· Magnetic tape
· Diskettes
· Hardcopy documents
· Compact disks
· Other electronic distribution such as the Internet
3. Satisfy the applicable requirements and standards for packaging and delivering the product.
For Software Engineering
Examples of requirements and standards for packaging and delivering the software include the following:
· Type of storage and delivery media
· Custodians of the master and backup copies of the software
· Required documentation
· Copyrights
· License provisions
· Security of the software
For Systems Engineering
Examples of requirements and standards include those for safety, the environment, security, and transportability.
4. Prepare the operational site for installation of the product.
Preparing the operational site may be the responsibility of the customer or end users.
5. Deliver the product and related documentation and confirm receipt.
6. Install the product at the operational site and confirm correct operation.
Installing the product may be the responsibility of the customer or end users. In some circumstances, very little may need to be done to confirm correct operation. In other circumstances, final verification of the integrated product occurs at the operational site.
