AFuzion, an avionics company with leadership who have decades worth of experience, share why the initial cost of DO-178 is negligible when compared to the benefits which arise from its correct implementation.
Who is AFuzion and what do they do?
AFuzion is a worldwide leader in avionics, and offers large-scale training both privately and publicly. Their knowledge has been incorporated into aircraft and system development around the globe especially in relation to the improvement of engineering, certification, effectiveness, and safety.
AFuzion provides extensive training in DO-178C, and they offer free resources to those who’d like to learn more, including training videos.
What is DO-178C?
DO-178C is the framework for the development of airborne software, also known as the Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification. Organization authorities such as the FAA, Transport Canada, and EASA use it in order to accept commercial software-based aerospace systems. It’s used by engineers, managers, development personnel, and certification authorities.
These are the benefits of DO-178C training from AFuzion:
Although the implementation of DO-178 doesn’t necessarily come without significant financial cost, the results could actually be cost-effective if put in place properly. These benefits become especially apparent when assessed over a lifetime or with thought given to subsequent product versions.
- There is a bigger understanding of requirements before implementation begins. Conjecture can be diminished and as such having to revise because of problematic or non-existent requirements are significantly reduced.
- Reduced coding duplication. With effective and powerful engineering processes, code should be accurate the first time it is written.
- Reduced problem of bugs throughout module testing: D0-178C edicts rigorous and testable requirements, as well as code reviews for Level C and above, and as such there will be fewer bugs during module testing.
- There is increased stability within software. Seeing as software is comparable to a chain which is only as strong as its weakest link, software which is considered 99% correct is still 1% incorrect and thus problems have the potential to arise.
- There are fewer shortcomings to be found throughout integration. Integration is often a significantly continual process where inconsistencies are located and must be rectified. However, DO-178 generally prevents this and the integration is 50-70% quicker than in environments where DO-178 isn’t applied.
- There is better configuration management with the capacity to control duplicate snapshots of the project which is covered by Configuration Management. CM guarantees version control, completed reviews, problem reporting, backups, and security. DO-178 has very prominent CM requirements which when used with modern technology which automates CM functions, secures higher software quality.
- Less complicated regression testing. Regression testing has the potential to be pretty expensive when it’s very thorough or done manually, however, DO-178 offers rigorous traceability so that the identification of modules which require changes or analysis can be done easily for retesting.
Although there are many more benefits, these serve as an introduction into DO-178. Upon request, AFuzion provides technical whitepapers which not only serve as an introduction to DO-178, but also expands on it’s benefits, and delves into its best practices.
