Reliable Vehicle Software
Expertise
Ann Marie Neufelder
SAE JA 1002 Software Reliability Program Standard contains a significant amount of research and development by our founder Ann Marie Neufelder. The software reliability predictions discussed in the SAE JA 1002 document were invented by our founder.
SAE JA 1002
In addition to having a large contribution to the SAE JA 1002, Ann Marie was also a key contributor to the SAE TAHB 009 Reliability Program Handbook and wrote several of the sections regarding software reliability and failure modes analysis. Ann Marie has experience with software FMEA and software reliability predictions with a variety of vehicles including armored and agricultural as well as driverless agricultural.
Reliable vehicle software starts with a software reliability program as per SAE JA 1002 and TAHB 009 Reliability Program Handbook. A software failure modes effects analysis is becoming a must-have in this industry. Ann Marie’s publication “Effective Application of Software Failure Modes Effects Analysis” is a much needed update to the nearly 20 year old SAE ARP 5580 Recommended Failure Modes and Effects Practices for Non-Automobile Applications. Firstly the SAE ARP 5580 document is applicable to automobiles for the simple reason that software failure modes, root causes, and design FMEAs aren’t application industry-specific. Secondly, the SAE ARP5580 has insufficient examples. Thirdly, it is outdated with regards to the failure modes and root causes and it advises a “black box” approach which has been found to be mostly ineffective. It also lacks much-needed tailoring guidance. Ann Marie’s updated document employs the same approach and infrastructure as ARP 5580 but with much-needed tailoring and failure modes and root causes that reflect those commonly found in the industry.
Ann Marie will conduct any of these analyses to ensure reliable vehicle software:
- Assess the software and firmware reliability of the vehicle using her industry accepted models
- Conduct and facilitate the software and firmware design FMEA for the vehicle
- Conduct and facilitate a software and firmware fault tree analysis of the vehicle
- Conduct a software safety assessment of the vehicle
- Assess the reliability growth of the software and firmware in the vehicle to determine its release readiness
- Develop reliability test suites for the software and firmware
- Identify the most common failure modes and root causes to ensure cost-effective defect reduction and software design FMEAs
- Identify the development practices in the SAE JA 1002 that are applicable and feasible for your program
