What is SPICE?
Originally SPICE was a project funded by the European Union. The main goal of this project was to develop a counterpart to CMMI, especially focused on Small and Medium Enterprises.
SPICE is an abbreviation and stands for "Software Process Improvement and Capability dEtermination". Even if software development was the main driver of the initiative at that time, the "S" in SPICE is nowadays used for the entire system development.
The project was very successful and finally, ISO issued the standard series ISO 15504-x to support the future development of specific standards for all kinds of domains.
In the meantime, most parts of this standard have been replaced by the ISO 330xx series, and we have a choice from various Process Assessment Models. The focus of SPICE has widened to all Software-based Systems and to Operation and Maintenance processes.
SPICE Overview
Automotive SPICE(r) is a domain-specific adaption of the International Standard ISO/IEC 15504 (SPICE). The purpose of Automotive SPICE is the assessment of process capability. It is mainly used to evaluate the development processes of automotive suppliers of control units.
If you need access to original definition standards, you may follow this link to Automotivespice.com
Automotive SPICE is a registered trademark of the VDA-QMC.
Hardware Engineering SPICE was created to support hardware development. Its main goals were:
Creation of a process reference and assessment model for hardware development, which is
- compliant with ISO/330xx and ISO/IEC 15504-2
- aligned with Automotive SPICE® 3.1
- aligned with the VDA Automotive SPICE Guidelines
- aligned with ISO 26262-1:2018 2Ed and ISO 26262-5:2018 2Ed
Change requests for Automotive SPICE, e.g.
- SYS.3 does not mention “Producibility”
- SYS processes do not address a production interface
- Thermal/environmental and EMC testing Note for SYS.4/SYS.5 (testing)
Find your copy of the latest version of Hardware SPICE here.
The purpose of this model is the creation of a process model for mechanic development which is aligned with Automotive SPICE® 3.1 and other established standards in the industry.
A significant part of the systems developed nowadays is mechatronic systems. These consist of mechanical, electronics, and software systems and/or components. To support company internal process improvement within companies it is useful to provide processes for mechanical, electronics, software, and system development with the same base and structure. This also supports assessors in conducting SPICE assessments.
Find your copy of the Mechanical SPICE Model here.
This Assessment model supports the assessment of Service Management Processes (ITIL).
It includes the service areas Service Desk, Service Support, Service Delivery, Organisation Team.
Find you copy of the ISO 20000 Assessment PAM here.
Test SPICE V4 has been released and is a strong tool if you need to focus your Assessment to the testing area. Main benefits are:
- Complete Coverage of ISO/IEC 29119
- New process architecture allows scalability of assessments
- Includes agile projects with separate extension.
Following this link, you can access the TestSPICE PAM
Agile SPICE shows a set of experiences collected in agile projects and being assessed following the automotive SPICE PAM.
Intacs has worked out guidance and bridges on how to understand the automotiveSPICE definitions into the agile field.
Find our Agile SPICE ebook (free download)
Current situation: it is hard to judge whether assessments and appraisals performed by third parties (i.e., consultancies, freelancers) reveal a necessary level of detail, rigor, and ISO/IEC 15504-2 conformance. This is especially true for Organizational Maturity assessments, for some regions in the world in particular.
In order to make such undertakings more professional and to provide clear requirements for trustworthy assessment results of ISO/IEC 15504 compliant assessments intacs has set up a working party in 2009 in response to industry feedback and requests.
The approach is as follows: offering assessment certificates once it is assured that that assessment performance was according to high quality standards and done by certified professionals, and, further, that the assessment results were put under independent quality assurance.
- High quality standards regarding assessment method and conduct
- Assessment result validation by an independent and competent authority
- Assessment services are provided exclusively by certified individuals who adhere to a defined code of conduct
International SPICE Communities and Networks
One of our main goals is to make intacs™ visible all over the world. We have certified assessors in many countries, so we need an efficient way to keep them up to date with all the innovations and changes and to get feedback so we can continuously improve our scheme.
Therefore, the Internationalization Working Group establishes contacts with companies, industry representatives and community members in all countries to promote the intacs™ program.
In addition, regional representatives are appointed to act as local contacts and communicate directly with the local intacs™ assessors.
Japanese / Nippon SPICE Network
Chinese SPICE Network
Korean SPICE Network
Italian SPICE Network
Indian SPICE Network
Other SPICE Networks
SPICE Model News
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Agile SPICE - Guideline to support agile projects
Christian Knüvener
(Agile SPICE)
2019-11-27
As an intacs working group we are currently trying to answer the growing demand of agile teams on how to implement AutomotiveSPICE(r) in an agile environment. We started to bridge MAN.3 by creating practices for Agile Work Management. Get a sneak preview on the base practices and participate in the workgroup!
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HW PRM/PAM (Hardware SPICE)
Pierre Metz
(_SPICE Models)
2019-10-07
Dear all, The intacs working group "HW Engineering Process" is happy to announce the 1st release of the PRM/PAM. Please pay particular attention to the Scope definition. We are happy to receive your comments and feedback. Change Requests shall be reported to us using the intacs Ticket System. Please add the prefix "HWE PRM/PAM" to the subject of your ticket. Please also note that, in order for a...
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Manifesto of Software Process Improvement
Thomas Schweigert
(_SPICE Models)
2010-02-03
In September 2009 a group of experts in Software Pro-cess Improvement (SPI) from all over the world gathered in connection with the EuroSPI Conference for a workshop at Universidad de Alcalá in Spain. EuroSPI's mission is to develop an experience and knowledge exchange platform for Europe where SPI practices can be discussed and exchanged and knowledge can be gathered and shared. At the workshop 15...
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Process Assessment Model for ISO20000
Fabio Bella
(_SPICE Models)
2015-10-22
Intacs is glad to announce a new Process Assessment Model for ISO20000. The model has been created by Nehfort-IT-Consulting (www.nehfort.at) and verified by intacs for compliance with the requirements of ISO 15504 Part2. Nehfort-IT-Consulting is also conducting trainings based on the new PAM. The new PAM can be downloaded from ...
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TestSPICE 3.0 - Testprozessmodell für agile Projekte
Tomas Schweigert
(TestSPICE)
2014-06-30
Die neue Version TestSPICE 3.0 ist in der Pilotphase. Bereits heute werden die Features der weiterentwickelren Version von TestSPICE intensiv diskutiert wie der folgende Artikel aus Entwickler.de zeigt. Link zum Artikel: TestSPICE 3.0 die erste Wahl für agile...
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TestSPICE 4.0 Released
Tomas Schweigert
(TestSPICE)
2019-01-03
Nach langer Arbeit ist - ein Jahr später als geplant- Die Version 4.0 von TestSPICE endlich freigegeben. Wesentliche Neuerungen: Komplette Abdeckung von ISO/IEC 29119 Vollständige Skalierbarkeit von Assessments durch neue Prozessarchitektur Komplettierung der Agile Extention Here you can download the complate PAM: TestSPICE V4.0 Was kommt als nächstes: Ein neues Zertifizierungsschema für...
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TestSPICE verified by intacs
Administrator
(TestSPICE)
2010-12-01
Test SPICE verified by intacs Based on the need to analyse and improve test processe TestSPICE was evolved based on the experience of several companies and experienced testers. To bundle the efforts and experiences a Special Interest Group: The TestSPICE SIG was founded in July. This group is open for all interested parties and anyone is welcome to join the group and help developing the...
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Trustworthy Assessment : Validation of Assessment Result by intacs(TM)
Ravindra Nath
(Trustworthy Assessments)
2010-03-08
“State of the Art Standards” are invaluable in enhancing industry performance to new minimum thresholds. These standards guard quality, performance, and in many cases assist in assuring product reliability. Maintaining the effectiveness of a good standard requires commitment and unbiased reliable verification. intacs™, besides its commitment towards maintaining high standard of assessors’ knowledge...
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White Paper on Process Maturity Models (SPICE, CMMI) vs. Agile published!
Pierre Metz
(_SPICE Models)
2014-08-05
Dear community members, the white paper, as announced on intacs.info and in the latest intacs newsletter, has been finished. White Paper Spice and Agile We would be happy if this contributes to answering frequently asked questions and to clarifying myths with respect to Process Maturity Models (such as SPICE and CMMI) vs Agile. We also hope that it will trigger fruitful discussions and further...