Test Strategy for New Product Development : Specific actions to enhance overall test strategy at ABB Robotics

Abstract: Testing is a crucial process for organizations to identify any defects, ensure high-quality standards, enhance customer experience, mitigate risks, and comply with regulations. With proactive identification and resolution of problems, efficient testing saves time, money, and effort, ultimately contributing to the organization's overall success. The ABB Robotics Quality Management team for New Product Development projects identified that the current testing is process-oriented which results in overlapping test activities, delays, and increased costs. The lack of a holistic approach was identified as the main problem for the testing processes. Testing for New Product Development in the robotics industry is a time-consuming and costly activity. To deliver high-quality and reliable robot solutions, it is essential to test the right items at the right stage of development. The purpose of this research is to build a Test Strategy for New Product Development projects at ABB Robotics. The major objectives for the generated test strategy include identification of the right test methodologies, early identification of bugs and failures, achieving sufficient test coverage through component, module, integration, and system levels of testing, testing at the right level and stage, early verification of all requirements, better product quality, accelerated time to market, and superior customer experience. This research will focus on the mentioned aspects and won't address certain areas such as how suppliers conduct their testing, how test data is transferred from suppliers to ABB Robotics, processes after new product development projects are completed, and the testing processes in customer service. The research methodology involves a thorough literature review, an analysis of internal documents, international standards, and interviews within ABB Robotics, as well as external interviews and benchmarking with three well-known companies in the industry. With the support of the findings, recognized patterns, and analysis, a test strategy with its three major key strategic themes aligned with ABB Robotics' research objectives was generated with an implementation plan.