What actually is SPICE?
If you work in the automotive sector, you will certainly have come across the term "ASPICE". The "A" stands for Automotive, because SPICE is also relevant in other industries.
But what exactly is SPICE - and what role does it play in systems engineering? This is the subject of the following.
SPICE: Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination
SPICE stands for Software Process Improvement and Capability Determination. SPICE therefore has two functions that go hand in hand: Firstly, we can use it to evaluate company processes. Based on the evaluation, we can then use the second step to selectively improve the Processes improve and fill gaps.
SPICE was originally developed in the ISO/IEC 15504-5 standardized, which, however, will be replaced in 2021 by ISO/IEC TS 33061:2021 was replaced. This was driven by the increased use of software in products. That is why it was initially "only" about software development.
The two dimensions of SPICE: processes and maturity level
SPICE has two dimensions: The process dimension and the maturity dimension.
The process dimension of SPICE refers to the specific processes used in the development of software-heavy products. This includes activities such as requirements management, design, coding, testing and configuration management. The process dimension is assessed using a series of models that are tailored to the specific needs of the relevant industries, e.g. automotive, aerospace or telecommunications.
The maturity dimension refers to an organization's ability to perform a specific software-heavy development process effectively and efficiently. It is measured using a series of models that assess an organization's ability to meet the specific requirements of a particular process. Maturity levels are assigned to each process based on the organization's ability to achieve the specific goals associated with the process.
In SPICE, there are six maturity levels from 0 (incomplete) to 5 (optimized). Each level is defined by a series of specific process improvement goals. By achieving these goals, the organization demonstrates its level of maturity.
Systematic improvement
The combination of the process dimension and the maturity dimension provides a comprehensive approach to assessing and improving software-heavy development processes. By assessing an organization's processes and capabilities, SPICE enables companies to identify areas for improvement and develop a plan for implementing changes that will help them deliver higher quality products more efficiently. In addition, SPICE provides a common language and framework for organizations to communicate about their processes and capabilities. This encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing within an industry.
ASPICE: SPICE in the automotive environment
A good example of this is SPICE in the automotive environment, i.e. an industry-specific adaptation. Compared to SPICE, ASPICE has a strong focus on best practices in safety and quality management. In fact, achieving ASPICE maturity level 2 is typical for the completion of a functional safety audit according to ISO 26262. ASPICE is also intended to promote agile working through an iterative approach, of course without compromising the need for a high level of security. This should - at least in theory - shorten development cycles and ensure quality throughout the entire development process.
Conclusion
In principle, it is a good idea to ensure and continuously improve the maturity of processes for the long-term success of a company. However, this is a considerable investment. For this reason, we usually find SPICE where the complexity and demands on development are very high. In some industries, such as automotive, organizations usually have no choice. In particular, OEMs usually require their suppliers to provide evidence of ASPICE.
Even if it is not mandatory, companies can use the two dimensions of SPICE as a framework. However, the organization should already have a certain level of maturity. If this is not the case, then the ISO 9001 a better starting point.
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