The Automatic Test Systems Development Plan (ATSDP): a CMM level 3 process

The Automatic Test Systems Development Plan (ATSDP) is a software engineering process control and management plan developed using Quality Air Force (QAF) principles, and periodically refined using metrics and empirical data gathered over many years. QAF is the Air Force's approach to total quality management: a leadership commitment and operating style that inspires trust, teamwork and continuous improvement everywhere in the Air Force. The ATSDP is used to provide a clear roadmap and analysis tool for Test Program Set (TPS) development projects. The ATSDP works, as evidenced by the group's recent success in achieving Capability Maturity Model (CMM) Level 3. The ATSDP does not detail day-to-day programming tasks, nor is it intended to. What the ATSDP does, however, is provide a methodical approach to give all team members, from programmers, upper management, and customers, "ownership" and visibility of key project elements. Thus, a foundation is developed to logically organize, schedule, and track the individual activity lists necessary to complete a TPS project.