Verification, Validation, and Testing of Engineered Systems

1.2 VVT SYSTEMS AND PROCESS

1.2.1 Introduction—VVT Systems and Process

This section serves as an introduction to the VVT process. It starts with the definition of an engineered system, that is, a man-made artifact that depends upon scientifically based and experiential processes that are logically applied. VVT attempts to help these systems achieve their full potential in terms of performance, efficiency and economy of precious resources. What follows is a detailed discussion of what is meant by VVT in all its manifestations. This includes a variety of definitions, as given by various experts, industries, engineering organizations and government agencies.

As a discipline VVT is an outgrowth and expansion of the earlier disciplines quality assurance and quality control. It is an evolving concept and thus will continue to be redefined with time and with the development of new techniques for design and evaluation of engineered systems. Thus, it is not surprising that there would be disagreement in the engineering and business community on just what comprises a VVT program.

Here, we attempt to give an overview of the many perceptions about VVT from the various stakeholders in the VVT process, that is, customers, manufacturers, regulators, professional organizations and government. Thus, we break down the differences between VVT definitions as seen by various technical disciplines: electrical and electronics engineering, telecommunications, artificial intelligence and the modeling ...