The development of automotive technology makes more and more electronic/electrical products in the car, especially with the intelligentization, software plays an increasingly important role. Automotive SPICE is a software process evaluation and improvement model for the automotive industry formulated by European car manufacturers (OEMs) to guide suppliers' software development process, thereby improving the quality of electronic control units (ECUs) on vehicles.

In IATF 16949:2016, there are clear requirements for embedded software. Suppliers providing embedded software must develop software based on Automotive SPICE (or equivalent standard) to ensure software quality, and provide evaluation based on Automotive SPICE (or equivalent standard). Report.

The changes in the new version of the standard mainly include: requirements for safety-related parts and their processes, requirements for enhanced product traceability to support the latest regulatory changes, requirements for embedded software products, and assurance management processes include handling NTF (no faults found). ) and use of automotive industry guidance, description of hierarchical supplier management and development requirements, and increased corporate responsibility requirements.

Introduction to Automotive SPICE

Automotive SPICE is a "process evaluation model for the automotive industry" jointly developed by major European car manufacturers. Its purpose is to improve the quality of the electronic control unit (ECU)/vehicle computer installed in the car.

Major European automakers released the first version of the Automotive SPICE specification in 2005 and used it to guide improvement activities in the development process of parts suppliers.

Features of Automotive SPICE

The biggest feature of Automotive SPICE is that it is a specification formulated by the OEM (automotive manufacturer) of the ECU parts supplier. Therefore, its significance is not limited to "acquiring certification", but more focused on "improving the quality of product development projects".

More recently, automakers have started requiring suppliers to comply with Automotive SPICE to meet the process establishment required by functional safety (ISO 26262).

main purpose

1. As an evaluation guide for judging the development capability of suppliers:

Often referred to as an "Automotive SPICE-based assessment";

Primarily for a development project, not an organization or department.

2. As an implementation guide for suppliers to improve their own process activities:

Sometimes, automakers specify the process of improving objects;

The group of processes recommended by BMW Germany and other car companies is called the "HIS Scope (SCOPE)".

3. As a guideline established as a process to meet the requirements of functional safety (ISO 26262):

ISO 26262 requires the establishment of an organizational system and environment that can continuously implement improvement activities;

This is equivalent to "Achieving Automotive SPICE Capability Level 3".

Structure of Automotive SPICE

Automotive SPICE is mainly composed of two parts:

1. 31 kinds of processes (refer to the X-axis in the figure below)

The aforementioned "HIS Scope (SCOPE)" here refers to 15 of them.

2. Ability level from level 0 to level 5 (refer to the Y-axis of the figure below)

In most cases, it is required to be able to reach Ability Level 3.

Process of Automotive SPICE

Automotive SPICE mainly includes 31 processes related to software development, which can be used in process improvement activities of development projects.

In addition to these procedures, the procedures defined in the ISO15504 series of specifications, which are the basis for Automotive SPICE, can also be referred to as needed.

For example: ISO/IEC TR 15504 Part-5, Part-6 (defining the process of system development and organizational management)

Especially when dealing with functional safety (ISO 26262), in addition to Automotive SPICE, some processes defined in the ISO15504 series of specifications are also required.

Capability Levels of Automotive SPICE

Automotive SPICE utilizes the capability levels from 0 to 5 defined in the ISO15504 series -

The meaning of the main ability level

Competency level 1: The stage where business work is performed piecemeal as a "personal unit";

Capability Level 2: The stage in which business work is performed as a "team unit" under the command of the leader;

Capability Level 3: The stage in which business work is performed in "departmental units" based on the organization's standard processes.

The biggest difference between capability levels 2 and 3 is whether there is an "organizational standard process", that is, "is there a mechanism for accumulating Know How and other assets acquired during the implementation of development projects".

All in all, automakers require component suppliers to achieve capability level 3, as capability level 3 is required to enable continuous/stable implementation of multiple development projects. At the same time, the establishment of safety culture, process facilities, etc. required by functional safety (ISO 26262) all need to reach competency level 3.