SG 1 Prepare for Product IntegrationPreparation for product integration is conducted. Preparing for integration of product components involves establishing and maintaining an integration sequence, the environment for performing the integration, and integration procedures. The specific practices of the Prepare for Product Integration specific goal build on each other in the following way. The first specific practice determines the sequence for product and product-component integration. The second determines the environment that will be used to carry out the product and product-component integration. The third develops procedures and criteria for product and product-component integration. Preparation for integration starts early in the project and the integration sequence is developed concurrently with the practices in the Technical Solution process area.
SP 1.1-1 Determine Integration SequenceDetermine the product-component integration sequence. The product components that are integrated may include those that are a part of the product to be delivered along with test equipment, test software, or other integration items such as fixtures. Once you have analyzed alternative test and assembly integration sequences, select the best integration sequence. The product integration sequence can provide for incremental assembly and evaluation of product components that provide a problem-free foundation for incorporation of other product components as they become available, or for prototypes of high-risk product components. The integration sequence should be harmonized with the selection of solutions and the design of product and product components in the Technical Solution process area. Refer to the Decision Analysis and Resolution process area for more information about using a formal evaluation process to select the appropriate product integration sequence. Refer to the Risk Management process area for more information about identifying and handling risks associated with the integration sequence. Refer to the Supplier Agreement Management process area for more information about transitioning acquired product components and the need for handling those product components in the product integration sequence. Typical Work Products
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SP 1.2-2 Establish the Product Integration EnvironmentEstablish and maintain the environment needed to support the integration of the product components. Refer to the Technical Solution process area for more information about make-or-buy decisions. The environment for product integration can either be acquired or developed. To establish an environment, requirements for the purchase or development of equipment, software, or other resources will need to be developed. These requirements are gathered when implementing the processes associated with the Requirements Development process area. The product integration environment may include the reuse of existing organizational resources. The decision to acquire or develop the product integration environment is addressed in the processes associated with the Technical Solution process area. The environment required at each step of the product integration process may include test equipment, simulators (taking the place of nonavailable product components), pieces of real equipment, and recording devices. Typical Work Products
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SP 1.3-3 Establish Product Integration Procedures and CriteriaEstablish and maintain procedures and criteria for integration of the product components. Procedures for the integration of the product components can include such things as the number of incremental iterations to be performed and details of the expected tests and other evaluations to be carried out at each stage. Criteria can indicate the readiness of a product component for integration or its acceptability. Procedures and criteria for product integration address the following:
Criteria can be defined for how the product components are to be verified and the functions they are expected to have. Criteria can be defined for how the assembled product components and final integrated product are to be validated and delivered. Criteria may also constrain the degree of simulation permitted for a product component to pass a test, or may constrain the environment to be used for the integration test.
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SG 2 Ensure Interface CompatibilityThe product-component interfaces, both internal and external, are compatible. Many product integration problems arise from unknown or uncontrolled aspects of both internal and external interfaces. Effective management of product-component interface requirements, specifications, and designs helps ensure that implemented interfaces will be complete and compatible. SP 2.1-1 Review Interface Descriptions for CompletenessReview interface descriptions for coverage and completeness. The interfaces should include, in addition to product-component interfaces, all the interfaces with the product integration environment. Typical Work Products
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SP 2.2-1 Manage InterfacesManage internal and external interface definitions, designs, and changes for products and product components. Interface requirements drive the development of the interfaces necessary to integrate product components. Managing product and product-component interfaces starts very early in the development of the product. The definitions and designs for interfaces affect not only the product components and external systems, but can also affect the verification and validation environments. Refer to the Requirements Development process area for more information about requirements for interfaces. Refer to the Technical Solution process area for more information about design of interfaces between product components. Refer to the Requirements Management process area for more information about managing the changes to the interface requirements. Refer to the Configuration Management process area for more information about distributing changes to the interface descriptions (specifications) so that everyone can know the current state of the interfaces. Management of the interfaces includes maintenance of the consistency of the interfaces throughout the life of the product, and resolution of conflict, noncompliance, and change issues. The interfaces should include, in addition to product-component interfaces, all the interfaces with the environment as well as other environments for verification, validation, operations, and support. The interface changes are documented, maintained, and readily accessible. Typical Work Products
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SG 3 Assemble Product Components and Deliver the ProductVerified product components are assembled and the integrated, verified, and validated product is delivered. Integration of product components proceeds according to the product integration sequence and available procedures. Before integration, each product component should be confirmed to be compliant with its interface requirements. Product components are assembled into larger, more complex product components. These assembled product components are checked for correct interoperation. This process continues until product integration is complete. If, during this process, problems are identified, the problem should be documented and a corrective action process initiated. Ensure that the assembly of the product components into larger and more complex product components is conducted according to the product integration sequence and available procedures. The timely receipt of needed product components and the involvement of the right people contribute to the successful integration of the product components that compose the product. SP 3.1-1 Confirm Readiness of Product Components for IntegrationConfirm, prior to assembly, that each product component required to assemble the product has been properly identified, functions according to its description, and that the product-component interfaces comply with the interface descriptions. Refer to the Verification process area for more information about verifying product components. Refer to the Technical Solution process area for more information about unit test of product components. The purpose of this specific practice is to ensure that the properly identified product component that meets its description can actually be assembled according to the product integration sequence and available procedures. The product components are checked for quantity, obvious damage, and consistency between the product component and interface descriptions. Those conducting product integration are ultimately responsible for checking to make sure everything is proper with the product components before assembly. Typical Work Products
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SP 3.2-1 Assemble Product ComponentsAssemble product components according to the product integration sequence and available procedures. Refer to the Verification process area for more information about verifying assembled product components. Refer to the Validation process area for more information about validating assembled product components. For users of the continuous representation, this is a capability level 1 specific practice. Product integration processes at capability level 1 or 2 may not include procedures and criteria that are created in the Establish Product Integration Procedures and Criteria specific practice at capability level 3. When there are no procedures or criteria established, use the sequence established by the Determine Integration Sequence specific practice to accomplish capability level 1 performance. The assembly activities of this specific practice and the evaluation activities of the next specific practice are conducted iteratively, from the initial product components, through the interim assemblies of product components, to the product as a whole.
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SP 3.3-1 Evaluate Assembled Product ComponentsEvaluate assembled product components for interface compatibility. This evaluation involves examining and testing assembled product components for performance, suitability, or readiness using the available procedures and environment. It is performed as appropriate for different stages of assembly of product components as identified in the product integration sequence and available procedures. The product integration sequence and available procedures may define a more refined integration and evaluation sequence than might be envisioned just by examining the product architecture. For example, if an assembly of product components is composed of four less complex product components, the integration sequence will not necessarily call for the simultaneous integration and evaluation of the four units as one. Rather, the four less complex units may be integrated progressively, one at a time, with an evaluation after each assembly operation prior to realizing the more complex product component that matched the specification in the product architecture. Alternatively, the product integration sequence and available procedures could have determined that only a final evaluation was the best one to perform. Typical Work Products
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SP 3.4-1 Package and Deliver the Product or Product ComponentPackage the assembled product or product component and deliver it to the appropriate customer. Refer to the Verification process area for more information about verifying the product or an assembly of product components before packaging. Refer to the Validation process area for more information about validating the product or an assembly of product components before packaging. The packaging requirements for some products can be addressed in their specifications and verification criteria. This is especially important when items are stored and transported by the customer. In such cases, there may be a spectrum of environmental and stress conditions specified for the package. In other circumstances, factors such as the following may become important:
The adjustment required to fit product components together in the factory could be different from the one required to fit product components together when installed on the operational site. In that case, the product's logbook for the customer should be used to record such specific parameters. Typical Work Products
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