Page 143 - Building A Succesful Board-Test Strategy

CHAPTER 4

Guidelines for a

Cost-Effective "Test"

Operation

Many of the methods thus far described, either singly or in combination, can
address any particular manufacturer's drive for a high-quality product. As every
manager knows, however, a successful "test" strategy (which includes inspection
and other nontest quality activities) must be efficient and cost-effective, as well as
technically appropriate. In addition, establishing a test operation involves more
than "merely" determining test methods. From a project's inception to its conclu-
sion, decisions include evaluating facilities and personnel, planning schedules, and
other operational details.
DeSena (1991) applied the program evaluation and review technique (PERT)
to better define individual tasks in the planning process. He created a PERT chart
that displays critical paths and associated timing. Figure 4-1 shows the first steps
of an adaptation of his analysis. Despite the intervening years and the vast changes
in both electronic products and test techniques, the principle remains as valid today
as when DeSena originally proposed it.

4.1 Define Test Requirements

As discussed in Chapter 1, the first item on a test manager's agenda is to
understand the product or products and to define test needs. Neglecting this step,
choosing instead to construct a test strategy that encompasses all conceivable test
requirements, often results in an excessively expensive solution that lacks impor-
tant features or capabilities.
In conformance with concurrent-engineering principles, defining test require-
ments should begin during initial product design. Planning includes evaluating
the organization, all product offerings, and management goals, policies, and
constraints.
For example, consider product-related issues. Personal-computer manufac-
turing generally involves high volumes and state-of-the-art technology. Aggressive
selling-price competition makes keeping test costs down critical. Personal-digital
assistants (PDAs) must cram almost as much technology onto a much smaller
motherboard. Appliances such as washing machines and microwave ovens, on the

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