ISO 15504 software process assessment (SPICE), from $800

What the ISO 15504 assessment covers

ISO/IEC 15504, widely known as SPICE, defined how to assess the capability of processes, especially software and system development processes. It introduced the idea of rating each process on a capability scale, from incomplete, through performed, managed, established and predictable, up to innovating, based on evidence from real projects.

The 15504 series has since been replaced by the ISO/IEC 330xx family, such as ISO/IEC 33001, 33002 and 33020, which keep the same core ideas. Many customers, especially in the automotive and embedded sectors, still use the 15504 name, and Automotive SPICE grew out of it.

Our assessment applies this capability approach to the processes that matter for your work, such as requirements, architecture, construction, integration, testing, project management, configuration management, quality assurance and problem resolution, and reports where each process stands and how to move it up.

• Selection of processes from a recognised process reference model
• Evidence collection from one or more representative projects
• Capability rating of each selected process with justification
• Interviews with engineers, testers, project leaders and quality staff
• Written assessment report with ratings, strengths, weaknesses and recommendations

Capability is assessed per process, not for the organization as a whole. A team can be strong in testing and weak in requirements, and the ratings show exactly that, which makes them a practical tool for planning improvement.

Internal improvement or a customer requirement: the options

Organizations ask for a 15504 style assessment for two reasons. Some want an honest view of their process maturity to plan improvement. Others are asked by a customer to demonstrate a given capability level for specific processes, a common request from vehicle manufacturers and their large suppliers.

If your customer requires an official Automotive SPICE assessment, the rules for that assessment, including assessor qualification through intacs, are set outside ISO and must be followed. Tell us your customer's exact requirement before ordering. Our assessment is the right choice for preparation, internal improvement and customers who accept an independent capability assessment without that specific qualification.

The assessment combines well with ISO 12207, which provides the process framework, and with ISO 9001 or IATF-style quality requirements in manufacturing organizations that also develop software and electronics.

A preparation assessment before an official customer assessment is a common use. It shows where evidence is missing while there is still time to fix it, and gives the team practice in explaining their work to an assessor.

What decides the price

A software process assessment with EUROTECH starts at $800. Time depends on the number of processes and projects assessed.

• Number of processes in scope
• Target capability level, since higher levels need more evidence
• Number of projects sampled
• Team size and development sites
• Interviews online or in person

We confirm days and every fee in a written quote. Access to the work products of the sampled projects, such as requirement specifications, test reports and change records, is the most important preparation.

Assessing against higher capability levels takes more time, because the assessor must see not only that work is done, but that it is planned, monitored, adjusted and based on a defined organizational process.

A smaller first scope, such as three or four core engineering processes, keeps the first assessment affordable and focused.