Title: Software quality measurement and improvement for real-time systems using quality tools and techniques: a case study

Authors: R. Amuthakkannan, S.M. Kannan, V. Selladurai, K. Vijayalakshmi

Addresses: IC Engine Research Cell, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Coimbatore 641 014, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai 625 015, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Coimbatore 641 014, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai 625 015, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: In industrial applications, a number of real-time systems is used with advanced technologies. A real-time system consists of software and hardware components. In these types of systems, real-time software quality has a continuously increasing impact on system quality. If the software quality is poor, the total system performance will result in serious injury to the system or significant property damage. Therefore, associated software quality measurement and improvement is an essential issue in the construction of new generation real-time systems. In this paper, after developing the real-time software, it is tested using different testing methods to predict the defects and performance. Then the root causes for the problems are identified according to the results and the opinion of the experts. Using the various quality control tools and techniques, the real-time software is improved to enhance the quality of the software. So, a systematic approach is proposed to improve the quality of real-time software in a case study of software-based internal combustion engine performance analyser by identifying the defects in software product and improving the development processes.

Keywords: software quality; real-time systems; beta testing; engine performance analysis; milestone charts; cause and effect; control chart; kaizen; failure mode and effects analysis; FMEA; Plan Do Check Act; PDCA; Plan Do Study Act; PDSA; quality measurement; quality improvement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISE.2008.016746

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2008 Vol.3 No.2, pp.229 - 256

Published online: 21 Jan 2008 *

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