Integrating Functional Safety and Quality to Deliver High-Quality Automotive IP

The automotive supply chain standards are a ‘unified guidelines’- and this statement is truly understated. Each layer of the automotive supply chain should be able to perceive and consume the standards that are suitable to their product development lifecycle. For instance, it is evident that automotive semiconductors are already one of the fastest growing segments in the global semiconductor industry and Safety Elements out of Context (SEooCs), or vehicle components not originally designed for that specific project, are at the foundation of the automotive supply chain. Safety Elements out of Context are developed independently by different entities belonging to the automotive supply chain purely based on assumptions that are best fit to develop the safety requirements allocated to the component with high level design requirements to self and external application of the component. 

The integration of the SEooC into the SoC, followed  by delivery to the  supplier and ultimately the OEM are like pieces of puzzle that requires utmost focus and attention to detail at every step of the product development process (Figure 1). This can ultimately be achieved by implementing stringent checks and balances in the product life cycle through compliance with the automotive safety and quality standards.

With various stakeholders in the automotive industry contributing to the sole purpose of producing a safe and secure vehicle for the humankind, the journey begins with responsible implementation of the Product Development Process based on the following standards, as shown in Figure 2.

The products at the bottom of the automotive supply chain can cater to various applications with diversified goals. In this case it is important to align the nominal/ functional requirements of the product with the safety requirements. A centralized requirement management tool will help achieve traceability throughout the product development lifecycle. The requirements shall be designed to conceptually best fit to the product that eventually is validated and verified using suitable test cases (Figure 4). 

Synopsys products are at the leading edge of delivering essential innovative solutions to the automotive industry and relevant applications. Synopsys ARC® Processors and Security IP have united pillars of quality, functional safety, and product development methodology to ensure that the products comply with the standards and there is a consistent improvement in product safety, quality, and customer satisfaction. 

Learn how Synopsys integrates functional safety processes with quality management systems to deliver high-quality, safety-compliant IP to our customers: A Perfect Blend of Quality in Functional Safety to Accelerate an Automotive IP.