Why Test Failures Occur in Software Testing In software development and system engineering, test failures are often interpreted as evidence that the product contains defects. However, experienced engineers know that test failures can originate from multiple sources across the development lifecycle, not just the code itself. This post originated from a read of a LinkedIn […]
The Business Cost of Inadequate Testing and Verification Inadequate Testing Priorities: The Hidden Business Risk in Product Development In product development, testing and verification are often praised in principle but underfunded in practice. Organizations regularly declare quality as a core value, yet budget allocations and schedule pressures reveal a different reality. I am grateful to […]
AI in Product Development & Testing: Support and Refutation Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how products are developed and tested — offering speed, insight, and automation, yet also raising questions about reliability, variability, and limits in real-world engineering. This article examines both the support for and refutation of the use of AI product development tools, […]
Why Software-Defined Vehicles Demand Stronger Verification and Validation Software-defined vehicles (SDVs) are reshaping automotive engineering. Vehicle behavior is no longer fixed at production; it evolves through over-the-air (OTA) updates, software feature toggles, and AI-enabled decision logic. This shift dramatically raises the stakes for SDV verification. Personally, I think treating a vehicle like IT equipment may […]
PFMEA Control Gap: Control Plan Tools That Fail During Transition The PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) control gap is one of the most common root causes of quality failures in manufacturing. It occurs when the Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA) indicates that risks are controlled, but actual shop-floor execution indicates otherwise. […]
The Iterative Development Process in Modern Product Development The iterative development process is not a single activity or phase—it is a system of interconnected disciplines working together throughout the product lifecycle. The attached graphic illustrates this system as a set of interlocking gears, each representing a critical capability required to move from concept to successful […]
Deterministic vs Probabilistic: Definitions that Matter in Engineering In engineering, deterministic vs. probabilistic refers to how we model cause-and-effect relationships and uncertainty. The difference between the two requires concepts that are important and should drive how we behave. A deterministic view assumes that the same inputs will always produce the same output; given the system […]
What PPAP Is Trying To Achieve (And Often Does) At its best, PPAP in manufacturing is a structured way to prove that a supplier’s process can repeatedly produce parts that meet all customer and regulatory requirements. The AIAG PPAP intent aligns with Ioan Feloniuk’s framing: demonstrate that design intent, process capability, and evidence are in place […]
The ROI Trap in Equipment Maintenance Decisions It is cool when I hear engineers early in their career chat with me about their engineering, both design and manufacturing. about, well, I want to say face-palm moments. One such example is when executives often ask for ROI on equipment maintenance numbers, even though the line has long […]