Operations and Maintenance
Once the
system is operational, the role of the assurance engineer is not over.
While the original project assurance engineer may have moved on to
another project, some assurance engineering is still required, usually
at a minimal level.
During
operations, problems may be identified that can be traced to the
complex electronics, or for which the device can compensate. Also, the
environment within which the device is operating may change, possibly
outside of the specified operating environment. When the physical
environment changes or the device is used in new ways, a re-evaluation
and assessment should be performed to ensure that the changes will not
cause any unexpected problems.
Maintenance
of complex electronics is usually required because the hardware device
has broken or worn out. However, the design of the device may also be
changed to:
- Correct defects
(previously known or discovered during operation)
- Upgrade COTS IP modules
or cores
- Add or remove features
and capabilities (as requested by customer, user or operator)
- Compensate or adapt for
hardware changes, wear out or failures.
- Compensate for changes
in software components, such as COTS patches or upgrades
Assurance Process
Assurance
activities during operations and maintenance for complex electronics
include:
- Review operational and
maintenance procedures for inclusion of any workarounds or other
information that was discovered during development and testing.
- When operational
procedures change, ensure that the changes do not use the complex electronic
device in a way that was not previously verified. If the device
will be used in new ways, then a risk analysis should be
performed to assess possible impacts of the new operations.
Further testing may be recommended.
- Support any failure
review boards or help assess any problems that are identified
during operations.
- If the complex
electronic device is to be reprogrammed, assess the impact of the changes
on the device, the system, and operational procedures. Update the
traceability analysis for any changes.
- Ensure that the design
data is maintained in the configuration management system, and
that all changes are approved.
- Perform problem trend analysis when
appropriate, based on the assurance classification of the
complex electronics.
Small
changes to the complex electronics (if it is reprogrammable in the
field) can be handled as maintenance functions. Significant changes
should go through the requirements-design-implement-test life cycle in
some form. The assurance activities required by those life cycle phases
should be applied in an appropriate manner, tailored to the original assurance classification of the device and
the complexity and amount of change in the design.
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