The Automotive SPICE Process Model with SPICE Extensions

Together with a set of SPICE model extensions, the Automotive SPICE® process model family provides a proven framework for process evaluation and optimization.

Automotive SPICE process model

Covering multiple engineering domains, so you can utilize Automotive SPICE® as a base for a reliable R&D process landscape.

Automotive SPICE^® (ASPICE) provides an established standard for reliable development processes. As a process reference model, ASPICE prescribes the process requirements, the outcomes that a process must meet, and the associated activities, enabling R&D teams and departments to design a workflow that supports the development of automotive systems with a minimum of correction loops. To support smooth integration into an overall system, model extensions for dedicated engineering domains, such as hardware and machine learning, are also available. Furthermore, ASPICE provides connections to other nonfunctional requirements such as functional safety, autonomy safety and cybersecurity.

A global standard for R&D processes

The versatility of the ASPICE model and its openness for various engineering domains advanced it as the leading process model in the automotive industry. Many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) expect their suppliers to design their development processes in a manner that fulfills the process specifications of ASPICE as a prerequisite to deliver the expected outcomes — especially reliability for both the product and its delivery. The model consists of a structured collection of best practices from the car manufacturing industry and includes industry-specific models for the development of systems, software, hardware and mechanics.

The industry-specific standard was developed in 2005 by the VDA’s Quality Management Center, with the involvement of experts from UL Solutions. The model is currently in its fourth generation. ASPICE is also used for the establishment of development systems in sectors other than the automotive industry.

To leverage the benefits of ASPICE in the development of mechatronics systems, ASPICE is designed as a plug-in model in which development processes for other engineering disciplines can be added. Experts from UL Solutions are actively involved in the plug-in development and are co-authors of model extensions.

Automotive SPICE® and SPICE models

SPICE for IT service management
Digital maturity SPICE
Automotive SPICE for Cybersecurity
Organization SPICE

1. Systems Engineering processes (SYS.1-5)

SYS.1, Requirements Elicitation
SYS.2, System Requirements Analysis
SYS.3, System Architectural Design
SYS.4, System Integration and Integration Verification
SYS.5, System Verification

2. Software Engineering processes (SWE.1-6)

3. Machine Learning Engineering processes (MLE.1-4)

MLE.1, Machine Learning Requirements Analysis
MLE.2, Machine Learning Architectures
MLE.3, Machine Learning Training
MLE.4, Machine Learning Model Testing

ASPICE for Machine Learning Engineering

4. Acquisition process group (ACQ.4)

ACQ.4, Supplier Monitoring

5. Hardware Engineering processes (HWE.1-4)

HWE.1, Hardware Requirements Analysis
HWE.2, Hardware Design
HWE.3, Verification Against Hardware Design
HWE.4, Verification Against Hardware Requirements

ASPICE on Hardware Engineering

6. Management processes (MAN.3, 5-6)

MAN.3, Project Management
MAN.5, Risk Management
MAN.6, Measurement

7. Supporting processes (SUP.1, 8-11)

SUP.1, Quality Assurance
SUP.8, Configuration Management
SUP.9, Problem Resolution Management
SUP.10, Change Request Management
SUP.11, Machine Learning Data Management

8. Validation processes (VAL.1)

VAL.1, Validation

ASPICE process assessments

ASPICE allows you to measure whether a work process is being adhered to and incorporated into daily practices. In this context, ASPICE utilizes a series of levels that denote the capability that a process has achieved. Each process is ascribed a level from zero to five. To achieve a particular level, the relevant model elements from ASPICE must be implemented in their appropriate form.

Whether or not a company has achieved the required level is ascertained by means of the assessment. This highlights the company’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as making recommendations for improvements. Assessments are only recognized in the automotive industry if they are carried out by experts. The VDA utilizes the intacs® Industrial Training system to certify these specialists.

In addition to the new workflow processes, a change in organizational culture is often required before a new level can be attained. Therefore, improvement can be time-consuming to implement. In a larger-scale automotive organization, the measures needed to achieve and sustainably maintain level three typically extend over several years.