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specific test code along the way
and collaborating with validation
engineers on automated code
modules to simplify the validation and
ease the transition into production.
This is actually a process that NI went
through in the early 2000’s as we
released 200+ products a year with
increased complexity per generation.
By bringing test engineering to the
conversation early, we saw over 40%
reductions in release to manufacturing
(RTM) time, which directly shortened
our time-to-market.
There are inefficient and costly flaws
with the traditional approach of
engaging test engineering late in the
NPI process. Engaging earlier in the
design cycle can lead to faster time-
to-market, lower manufacturing cost,
and improved yield.
If we look downstream, the test
engineering budgets and the
operations budgets are often
decoupled, so the test engineering
organization is not inherently
incentivized to architect the system
in a way that minimizes long-term
operational costs. This is where
siloed organizations struggle and
strong communicators differentiate.
At the heart of these negotiations and
tradeoffs is the inherent knowledge of
the test engineer about the suite of
UUTs supported, the stability of the
test system, and the areas to optimize
or improve. While it can be painful
for the test engineer, expanding their
sphere-of-influence to the entire
design-cycle makes them a truly
valuable asset to the organization.
Many organizations have different
business units for the develop/
deploy and support/maintain costs
of a test system. Test engineers can
greatly impact the operational costs
of supporting a system, but must
expand their influence beyond their
own organization to understand and
implement solutions to mitigate the
long-term costs of supporting an ATE
system.
While the challenges of obsolescence
management, rapidly evolving RF
requirements, and influencing DFM
are by no means all-encompassing,
these
challenges
represent
tremendous opportunity for the test
engineer to impact the bottom line
of the organization and showcase the
value the test engineering team can
deliver.
Reggie Rector is a Senior Product
Manager for PXI and ATE Systems
at NI with a special focus on
Aerospace ATE. His job functions
include product management
and lifecycle planning, inbound
product definition, and market
development for PXI-based ATE
systems. He holds a bachelor
of science in Biological Systems
Engineering from the University
of Nebraska-Lincoln.
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