Embracing Change to Transform the Future

The technological landscape is rapidly transforming. Teams must increase their efficiency with a forward-thinking approach. Allegro MicroSystems and Northrop Grumman understand the significance of standardized processes in product development and mission-critical readiness.?

In this issue of The Edge, see how Allegro reached a 16x improvement in development timelines through standardization and automation, and the transformational change they experience with a renewed focus on test. And learn how Northrop Grumman's data-driven strategies ensure aerospace innovation. Plus, explore how the semiconductor industry has shifted its focus to comprehensive validation to maintain a competitive edge.

Allegro MicroSystems on Standardizing Test to Increase Efficiency

Supported by NI’s tools and close collaboration, Allegro is seeing a remarkable 16x improvement in product development timelines by driving transformational change within their organization. Khrystyna Pysareva, director of product validation and test engineering at Allegro, highlights standardized processes and automation’s role in optimizing efficiency and reducing product revisions. Listen as she explains how partnering with NI has allowed Allegro to elevate test a key part of their product development process by driving undeniable product and business performance.

Northrop Grumman Meets Mission-Critical Launch Readiness Deadlines under Pressure

In this modern era of space exploration, harnessing the power of data is a necessity for aerospace companies like Northrop Grumman. Their launch vehicles, intricate systems filled with numerous electronic components, require constant monitoring and instantaneous data processing to ensure launch readiness.

By standardizing on a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) approach and optimizing strategies to meet demanding technical requirements, Northrop Grumman was able to maintain a competitive edge in a market characterized by tight schedules and immense pressures. Their partnership with NI facilitated advanced analytics, data management, and integrated system developments, allowing the company to maintain its commitment to quality, safety, and reliability. See how Northrop Grumman utilizes digital transformation to stay at the forefront of aerospace innovation.

Marvin Landrum on the Semiconductor Industry's Shift Towards Comprehensive Validation for Efficient Engineering

In recent decades, the semiconductor industry has undergone transformative changes. The rise of smartphones, the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud computing has driven an insatiable demand for semiconductors, pushing the industry to innovate at unprecedented rates. There has been increased global competition and the emergence of new market players, especially in Asia. Semiconductor innovation and production is a focal point for economies worldwide.

We sat down with Marvin Landrum, offering manager director in semiconductor validation for NI and seasoned industry expert, to discuss how test leaders can set themselves up for success in this time of unprecedented industry change. His vast experience in semiconductor design and validation offers a blueprint for what's crucial in today's fast-evolving landscape, and he explains how standardizing test processes drives organizational efficiency across the business.

"When I came into the industry about 20 years ago, the main term used was called characterization," Landrum explained. However, as the industry progressed and products became more complex, the need for a more encompassing process became evident. It became crucial to understand how each part functions in real-world customer scenarios, and there emerged a need to test a design's limits to potentially enhance its quality. This approach, often referred to as the "Break the Part mentality," is rooted in the belief that all potential issues in a chip must be identified and rectified before its market launch. Landrum shared the shift in naming, "When characterization was no longer the right term, we came up with the term validation, which is the superset. It includes characterization, but so much more."

As semiconductor parts became more intricate, especially with a growing focus on automotive trends, the industry shifted from just characterization to comprehensive validation to meet increased quality demands and customer expectations. As teams made the transformation from characterization to full validation, they started doing design margins testing and system level testing. “The scope grows. You start creating more product lines and more sites. The next thing you know, you have 50 teams doing 50 different things,” Landrum said.

Throughout this evolution, the need for consistency and efficiency across multiple teams and projects is paramount. “How can you afford to have 50 teams doing 50 different things? You have to write a lot of software. You have to develop a lot of hardware. You have to collect a lot of data. And if you're not doing that in a common way, you're going to have a very inefficient use of your very valuable validation resources,” he continued. Standardizing test processes becomes the catalyst for scaling success across the businesses and driving organizational efficiency. Test teams, by standardizing on processes, systems, software, and data formats, can significantly accelerate product development.

But why is standardization so crucial? It emphasizes organizational consistency. Landrum noted, "Standardization requires leadership at a higher level. It requires someone to step up and think big picture. What I normally see, unfortunately, is teams reacting too slowly or being reactive.” By focusing on a consistent approach across the board, companies can ensure that every team is on the same page, reducing inefficiencies and errors significantly.?

It's important to remember that building that consistent approach doesn’t happen overnight. “You can't go from where you are to full standardization in one step, but if you make smart decisions around what languages you use, what software platform you use, you can minimize the fragmentation and you can set yourself up for success in the future,” Landrum shared. If companies can stay on top of industry innovations and trends, they can try to see a bit of the future and make decisions towards standardization along the way.?

One way to future-proof against change is to standardize on specific platforms. By doing so, companies can ensure that all teams are using the same tools, further reducing the possibility of inconsistencies or errors. "What NI has been doing for the last four or five years under some of our leadership is to develop a new roadmap of products that help solve 80% of the framework needs for our customers so that they have to invest less and can move faster,” Landrum explained. Relying on solutions that seamlessly integrate with a connected toolchain leverages such investments to drive efficiency and speed.

The semiconductor industry is at a pivotal point in its evolution. “You're going to have multiple groups coming together, and you want to be as quick and proactive as possible in terms of thinking about the problems you have in the future, or your overall product development execution could suffer,” Landrum warned. The industry's future hinges on proactive approaches to innovation and adaptability. Standardization and an integrated approach to product development are instrumental in navigating the ever-evolving landscape, ensuring that companies remain efficient, consistent, and ahead of the curve in a fiercely competitive global market.

See how a smarter semiconductor test strategy can increase your team's efficiency.