Proligent - Better Overview of your Production Facilities by means of Test Software Integration at Novero
Initial situation and project task
In the year 2008, Nokia outsourced its business division ‘Line-Fit Automotive’ into the independent Novero GmbH. Because Nokia uses its own internal software and database applications, it was now necessary for Novero to develop a new standard solution for these applications, at short notice. In particular, administrative software for tester systems, testing processes and test results was urgently needed.
The primary challenge was to create a solution meeting the demands of a modern, dynamic production plant: At first the assembly line of one product was to be equipped completely with the new tester platform. Afterwards, all other product families should be provided with the new system gradually, without affecting the current production.
A suitable replacement for the existing management system for production data had to be implemented. Precondition for an adequate replacement was a smoothly integration into NI TestStand. Because NOFFZ is an integrations partner of Averna, Proligent was chosen as the convenient enterprise test software.
Proligent allows comprehensive options for configuration and administration as far as product and test data, test automation and process control are concerned. In addition to that, Proligent is able to generate production reports, analyses and evaluations.
Implementation and challenge
The first stage of the project was the design of the test process architecture. During this period, the following requirements had to be determined and documented:
By means of the Proligent Engineering Tool, hierarchies of products and test consoles, test specifications and operating parameters could be defined.
A new concept for CVI drivers and a structure for testing routines was worked out and implemented. Due to the explicit structure offered by TestStand, it was possible to develop and launch testing sequences independently from Proligent.
In the year 2008, Nokia outsourced its business division ‘Line-Fit Automotive’ into the independent Novero GmbH. Because Nokia uses its own internal software and database applications, it was now necessary for Novero to develop a new standard solution for these applications, at short notice. In particular, administrative software for tester systems, testing processes and test results was urgently needed.
The primary challenge was to create a solution meeting the demands of a modern, dynamic production plant: At first the assembly line of one product was to be equipped completely with the new tester platform. Afterwards, all other product families should be provided with the new system gradually, without affecting the current production.
A suitable replacement for the existing management system for production data had to be implemented. Precondition for an adequate replacement was a smoothly integration into NI TestStand. Because NOFFZ is an integrations partner of Averna, Proligent was chosen as the convenient enterprise test software.
Proligent allows comprehensive options for configuration and administration as far as product and test data, test automation and process control are concerned. In addition to that, Proligent is able to generate production reports, analyses and evaluations.
Implementation and challenge
The first stage of the project was the design of the test process architecture. During this period, the following requirements had to be determined and documented:
- Parameters, structures & names for product variants and test consoles
- Testing processes and special routing regulations
- Ranges of numbers
- Handling of faulty devices, definition of damage and repair types
- User roles and rights
- Additional software tools for the different stages of the testing process
- Connection to the existing ERP system, data import from the old system
- Work Order Management, production reporting and real-time dashboards
By means of the Proligent Engineering Tool, hierarchies of products and test consoles, test specifications and operating parameters could be defined.
A new concept for CVI drivers and a structure for testing routines was worked out and implemented. Due to the explicit structure offered by TestStand, it was possible to develop and launch testing sequences independently from Proligent.
For launching the Proligent integration, hardware-related routines have
been simulated, so that testing sequences and the test process model
were proved to be executable. For launching process models and for
testing the process as a whole, a sandbox was set up. The implemented
TestStand process model is marked by its generic character allowing it
to be used for all applications.
The conditioned test execution and the specification of the limiting values according to the product specification have been defined by Proligent. The junction of TestStand and Proligent was implemented by means of the Proligent NI TestStand Bridge.
The Proligent Test Package Manager is responsible for administration of the software versions and their distribution to the convenient tester stations. Due to consequent generation of software packages, such as ‘GUI’ or ‘Process Model,’ it is possible to use different software versions of these packages on different tester stations. This feature is very useful for introducing a new product or for testing a new software version.
A further component of Proligent is the Unique Identifier Manager (UIM). This tool administrates product specific ranges of numbers such as serial or IMEI numbers.
A further task was the development of a Work Order Management System, which flexibly assigns available tester systems to specific orders. By means of the Proligent XML Bridge, this system could be connected to Proligent as well.
Proligent Analytics is a powerful tool for fast data analysis. It is able to generate standard reports such as cycle times, work load of the testing equipment and statistic analysis. Users can also generate personalized dashboards and summarize large amounts of multidimensional data such as production reports. A web-based Live-Portal provides current online data about all production facilities.
Conclusion and future prospects
By means of powerful standard software tools such as Proligent and TestStand NOFFZ has succeeded in replacing an established test management system by a new one. The new management system allows to control product quality at any time and to optimize testing methods and production processes at an early stage.
New production plants and additional product variants can be implemented into Proligent without any problems. Therefore, the implemented enterprise test management system will also meet future demands towards product diversity, quality and time-to-market.
The conditioned test execution and the specification of the limiting values according to the product specification have been defined by Proligent. The junction of TestStand and Proligent was implemented by means of the Proligent NI TestStand Bridge.
The Proligent Test Package Manager is responsible for administration of the software versions and their distribution to the convenient tester stations. Due to consequent generation of software packages, such as ‘GUI’ or ‘Process Model,’ it is possible to use different software versions of these packages on different tester stations. This feature is very useful for introducing a new product or for testing a new software version.
A further component of Proligent is the Unique Identifier Manager (UIM). This tool administrates product specific ranges of numbers such as serial or IMEI numbers.
A further task was the development of a Work Order Management System, which flexibly assigns available tester systems to specific orders. By means of the Proligent XML Bridge, this system could be connected to Proligent as well.
Proligent Analytics is a powerful tool for fast data analysis. It is able to generate standard reports such as cycle times, work load of the testing equipment and statistic analysis. Users can also generate personalized dashboards and summarize large amounts of multidimensional data such as production reports. A web-based Live-Portal provides current online data about all production facilities.
Conclusion and future prospects
By means of powerful standard software tools such as Proligent and TestStand NOFFZ has succeeded in replacing an established test management system by a new one. The new management system allows to control product quality at any time and to optimize testing methods and production processes at an early stage.
New production plants and additional product variants can be implemented into Proligent without any problems. Therefore, the implemented enterprise test management system will also meet future demands towards product diversity, quality and time-to-market.