• Integrated Software Engineering Solution unites ALM with PLM
• Integrates embedded software and physical systems development
• Improves automotive product quality, software robustness and traceability
• Quality improvement aims to significantly reduce software-related recalls

Siemens’ new Integrated Software Engineering solution for the automotive industry addresses several of the critical product development challenges associated with the explosive growth of embedded software in today’s increasingly sophisticated automobiles. By integrating application lifecycle management (ALM) software with product lifecycle management (PLM) software, Siemens is delivering a solution for the automotive industry to seamlessly manage the inherently different lifecycles of electro-mechanical systems and the development of software used to control those physical systems. As a result, automotive companies could enhance software functionality and traceability, while improving overall product quality and reducing automotive recalls associated with embedded software. Today’s announcement is the first in a series of announcements about the Digital Enterprise Industry Solutions developed by Siemens’ PLM Software business.

“As cars get more sophisticated – with features like collision avoidance, automatic parallel parking, and the advent of self-driving autonomous vehicles – the need for software to control these functions will continue to accelerate, resulting in increased challenges for product development,” said Dave Lauzun, Vice President of Automotive & Transportation, Siemens PLM Software. “By integrating ALM and its ability to manage the embedded software development process, with PLM’s capacity to manage physical systems, Siemens is providing a way for automotive companies to more rapidly, efficiently and accurately develop the robust and high-quality mechatronic systems that will power the future of transportation.”

Managing embedded software development in close synchronization with the development of physical systems is a big challenge for automotive companies. Due to its nature, product engineering and software engineering follow inherently different development lifecycles. Software development is managed separately, and interface validation with hardware is done only during pre-defined checkpoints. In an era of smart-connected cars, the interactions between software and physical systems are increasingly becoming more complex exposing deficiencies of current processes, tools and methods. A Digital Twin of vehicle systems capable of representing the complete physical and digital behavior of today’s IoT connected cars is necessary to realize innovations.

“Embedded software development, done in conjunction with other design disciplines, is the key to smart products, smart vehicle systems and smart product development,” said André Girard, Senior Analyst IoT & Embedded Technology for VDC Research.