Unleashing The Power Of Test Through Data

In the relentless pursuit of technological innovation, test engineers find themselves facing ever-increasing pressures to deliver flawless products at an unprecedented pace. From the rapid evolution of autonomous vehicles to the advent of 5G and beyond, the demands on engineering teams continue escalating. While organizations strive to optimize their testing processes, the need for efficient testing methodologies remains a critical challenge. In this era of accelerating technology development, the intelligent use of data emerges as a driving force in revolutionizing product designs. But to generate this valuable data source, the need for efficient testing methodologies remains a critical challenge. Organizations must work throughout the test and data stack to keep up.

The inefficiencies of disjointed design and testing phases on a global scale

In an ideal world, organizations would have unlimited resources and time to refine intricate designs, but the reality is quite different. The complexity of modern products leads engineering teams to possess vertical and functionalized sets of design expertise. As a result, a new design might undergo numerous stages across different teams before reaching the market. The challenge is compounded by duplicated organizational structures leading to multiple teams tackling the same problems in silos.

Despite intentions to foster collaboration, many teams lack the necessary tools or processes to communicate effectively, leading to inefficiencies on a global scale. Additionally, characterization often requires specialized software and instrumentation knowledge, which causes a design to be “thrown over the wall” due to communication gaps. Streamlining functions and centralizing resources can enhance efficiency, with some organizations successfully standardizing test measurement software globally. Sharing both test software and methodologies across sites has proven beneficial, minimizing duplication while maximizing efficiency. In addition, this allows teams to generate data that can be more easily mapped and correlated across workflows.

The ability to standardize and reuse test software with existing lab setups offers significant advantages, including reduced characterization time, improved productivity, and lower costs. Leading organizations are creating training and debugging communities within their structures, fostering collaboration and sharing of ideas among engineers. Leveraging intellectual property (IP) across different stages of product development is a new frontier, where design specifications and test methodologies are shared across bring-up and characterization.

Maximizing resources and enabling smart data analytics

Data is collected at every second throughout the design, validation, and test processes, yet it remains underutilized. Connecting data across different stages of the design process provides a foundation for seamless data correlation, paving the way for smart data analytics across the product lifecycle. This approach allows engineers to correlate design specifications with simulation and validation results, accelerating the development cycle and facilitating efficient troubleshooting.

The vast amounts of data produced during each phase of the product development process present a challenge for engineers attempting to harness its potential. Off-the-shelf data management and analytics platforms offer a solution by providing open, scalable, and integrated data-sharing practices. These platforms, such as NI’s SystemLink, simplify the integration with existing data management systems, enabling in-depth data analysis and specification compliance. By adopting these solutions, engineering teams can focus on innovation rather than expending resources on creating in-house data platforms.

Unlocking the next level of insight and collaboration

Meaningful data lies at the core of smarter product lifecycle management. Off-the-shelf data management and analytics platforms facilitate open and integrated data-sharing practices, accelerating product development and enhancing performance. Teams that capitalize on the unique opportunity to connect workflows will unlock the next level of insight and collaboration, empowering engineering teams to concentrate on innovative ideas and accelerating product development.

In conclusion, the paradigm shift toward intelligent data utilization is reshaping the landscape of product testing. By addressing the inefficiencies of disjointed design and testing phases, sharing intellectual property, and embracing off-the-shelf data management platforms, organizations can unlock the full potential of their engineering teams and the data they generate. The future of testing lies in connecting workflows, enabling smarter product lifecycle management, and accelerating innovation. As a trusted partner and expert connector, we stand ready to help engineering teams through our products, technology, extensive partner network, and engineering services. Click here to learn more.