Some issues for software assessment in the motor industry

There are many difficulties to the general application of software assessment, especially by independent organisations, within the motor industry for both vehicle manufacturers and suppliers. These difficulties, such as the preception of high cost for no added value, confidentiality concerns, resource requirements, reactive management and `traditional´ engineering attitudes can be reduced by educating decision makers on software issues, but the real motivator is undoubtedly the requirement under the law in order to level the field on an international basis, and this is not yet clear. If improvements in safety and reliability are made by using software engineering and its assessment within the motor industry then it should also bring benefits in quality, customer satisfaction, and ultimately costs, which has the long term potential to more than offset the investment required. This would be to the advantage of all parties concerned, manufacturers, suppliers, assessors and most importantly buyers of vehicles