Using Software Development Life Cycle at GM Wilmington Assembly
Abstract
The Software Development Life Cycle is seldom used at my place of work. Unfortunately, recent developments in its use are deemed confidential. Due to this fact, this paper will examine in general terms one of the projects we are undertaking right now while at the same time attempting to maintain our confidentiality.
The project that will be examined is an upgrade to our main Human-Machine Interface (HMI) software: Cimplicity, to SQL Server and to the Windows OS. Cimplicity is a product of the GEFanuc group of General Electric. This group develops a full suite of applications used in the manufacturing environment. By way of introduction, the manufacturing floor environment uses a variety of types of equipment. To control these machines, a specialized computer is used. For the purposes of simplicity (not the program), this paper will refer to them all as PLC's or Programmable Logic Controllers. Most of these PLC's are accessible via the ethernet and communicate to our Protocol Data Units (PDU) in the computer room. These PDU's have Cimplicity installed on them in the form of projects that are named for the various areas or functions of our plant such as GA or General Assembly. The project we are undertaking will be a fundamental change to these PDU's in our computer room. The servers currently run Windows NT and will be upgraded to Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000 and SQL Server will will be upgraded from version 7 to SQL 2000.
Using SDLC at GM Wilmington Assembly
The most recent history of our HMI software upgrades has been full of small upgrades, hot fixes (quick patches provided by GE) and changes to minor configuration items on the projects themselves. Recently, spurred by an announcement from Microsoft that Windows NT would soon be unsupported, GM decided it was time to upgrade its servers. The new servers would have Windows 2003 Server and any client or production computer would have Windows 2000. Any SQL Server will run SQL 2000 after the upgrade. The project began as a somewhat simple server hardware and software upgrade and has moved into a full-blown consolidation, network upgrade and server consolidation. From the outset, both EDS and GM have agreed to use a CMMi framework for all actions relating to this upgrade.
Systems Investigation
The first step in the process was to assign a group of EDS personnel that would handle what is called a "Blockpoint" in GM speak.
The software development life cycle (SDLC) is a framework defining tasks performed at each step in the software development process.
The Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) consists of phases used in developing a piece of software. It is the plan of how to develop and maintain software, and when necessary, replace that software. In 2007 during my hospital’s transition to a new software system, I was fortunate enough to be included in the process. I did not get involved until the implementation phase, but from then on, until now, I remain very active in the process. I decided to highlight the Waterfall Model of SDLC. The Waterfall Model is a “sequential development process” with each phase continuing in a line (McGonigle and Mastrian, 2012, p. 205).
A software development process, also known as a software development life cycle (SDLC) can be explained as a structure, imposed on the development of a software product. The software development life cycle (SDLC) is an umbrella term for the overall process of developing, implementing, and retiring information systems through a multiple step process from initiation, training, documentation , design, analysis, maintenance, and consulting.
Mohamed Sami, 15 March 2012, Software Development Life Cycle, available from accessed on: 08 April 2014
Insightfully mapping out the technological advancements in software development from its beginnings somewhere in the late 1940’s to the current modern age. There is more than enough compelling evidence that software technology has laid a strong impact on all economic and social aspects of our modern day living. Thus, a systematic approach towards high quality software development is required due to an increasingly quality oriented market and competitive business world.
SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) is a process which consists of series of well-planned actions to develop or make changes in the software products. This chapter provides description on the SDLC basics, SDLC models and their application in the software industry. This gives directions for the quality stakeholders of any Software project and the product or project managers.
The system development life cycle, also know as the SDLC, is the process of designing and developing a system or software to meet certain requirements. (“System development life,”). This cycle involves many different phases, in which the system is planned, analyzed, designed, implemented, and tested. There are five major phases in the system development life cycle: systems planning, systems analysis, systems design, systems implementation, and systems security and support. Each of these phases has a particular responsibility and certain tasks are perfumed in each phase.
Complying with the regulations and fully automating requires an interaction between the SCADA, PLC, network, databases, servers and reporting tools. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), as the name indicates, is not a full c...
Given the time, it takes to develop large sophisticated software systems it not possible to define the problem and build the solution in a single step. Requirements will often change throughout a projects development, due to architectural constraints, customer’s needs or a greater understanding of the original problem. Iteration allows greater understanding of a project through successive refinements and addresses a projects highest risk items at every stage of its lifecycle. Ideally each iteration ends up with an executable release – this helps reduce a projects risk profile, allows greater customer feedback and help developers stay focused.
My interest in Software Engineering, as a practical approach to develop software, arose while studying it in my fourth semester. I became aware of the different software development methodologies and the various stages in developing a software. This interest blossomed further through studying software project management & software testing. I came to understand the need of the various managemen...
Riordan Manufacturing will more than recover the expenditures of this IT project within two years of the upgrade. Riordan will experience an increase in sales and a decrease in inventory loss due to accurate and low-cost inventory management. On-going costs will be minimized with an internal IT department handling support and maintenance of the new system. All of the project's objectives have been met, and Riordan's expectations have been fulfilled.
Software process improvement (SPI) is an essential topic in any computing curriculum. Students can be trained in the principles of SPI; later in industry this improves their chances [10] of implementing good software processes which in turn will be successfully defined and improved. [8] Discusses how all aspects of the computing field have had rapid, continuous change. As a result, university-level computing degrees curricula require frequent updating and review to remain effective and attractive for potential students, also to become more lucrative for industry as they need up-to-date graduates coming into the workforce. They [8] stress the point that there is no lessening in demand for IS knowledge and ability in organizations. Every discipline is experiencing growth in computer use and students who enrich there is knowledge is at a career advantage.
In today’s dynamic business environment, where there is need to be on par with changing business requirements and the needs of users to survive in the market, it is advisable to adopt a flexible and effective software development approach. An Agile approach as opposed to other development methods, enables organizations to respond fast to changes, gaining competitive advantages on the market and ensures user satisfaction too. ‘A system development methodology refers to the framework that is used to structure, plan, and control the process of developing an information system. (CMS & HHS, 2008)’. Several software development methodologies have emerged over years each having its own benefits and weaknesses and each of which works well for certain kinds of software development projects, teams and contexts. But a development methodology is necessary to make a development process productive, manageable and measurable and it defines specific deliverable and artifacts
At this stage in the process it was up to the center manager to provide leadership and facilitate all pre-installation needs. One month prior to the new system being implemented a center manager from one of the already converted centers was brought on to motivate and generate a positive atmosphere about the new changes. Since he had been through the process previously he could explain and help prevent past mistakes.
Software engineering is important in today’s society because we use the products of software engineering almost daily. We use the products of software engineering in objects as simple as our car keys to objects as complicated as supercomputers. The past, present, and future of software engineering is quite interesting. This paper will provide information about this field of study and why software engineering is going to be around a while.