Automated Test Systems Test Program Software — The Invisible Technology

The amount of work associated to Test Program Set (TPS) development, maintenance, and migration in the DOD has grown significantly. This is due to the introduction of the DOD standard family of test systems. Because of the increase in TPS workload, TPS software development/maintenance “business as usual” is no longer possible. The DOD already has a broad ranging development and standardization effort in motion to advance Automated Test System (ATS) development and reduce escalating Total Ownership Costs (TOC). To meet the new requirements, we will have to make TPS software processes and practices more visible and more disciplined. Additionally, we must immediately begin to establish a formal TPS Quality and Training Programs. This paper will discuss the pitfalls of business as usual, and propose a model for TPS Quality Assurance, training, and certification plan. It will describe the state-of-the-art of TP software development/maintenance and provide a glimpse into the pitfalls that lie ahead. In addition, it describes the more general area of TP software maintenance, different process models, and characteristics. It analyzes TP software maintenance and investigates how the characteristics of automated test systems affect TP software development and maintenance, and then describes the typical problems and issues in maintenance.