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DO-178C Software Development Environment Audit Checklist

A detailed checklist for auditing software development environments in compliance with DO-178C guidelines for aerospace and defense avionics software development.

DO-178C Software Development Environment Audit Checklist

by: audit-now
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About This Checklist

The DO-178C Software Development Environment Audit Checklist is an essential tool for ensuring the integrity and compliance of the software development environment in aerospace and defense applications. This comprehensive checklist addresses the critical aspects of development environment setup, maintenance, and control as specified in the DO-178C guidelines. By systematically evaluating the development environment, from tool selection to configuration management and access control, this checklist enables auditors and quality assurance professionals to maintain consistency, traceability, and reliability throughout the software development lifecycle. A well-controlled development environment is crucial for producing high-quality, safety-critical avionics software, ultimately contributing to enhanced aviation safety and streamlined certification processes.

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Industry

Aerospace and Defense

Standard

DO-178C - Software Considerations in Airborne Systems

Workspaces

Software Development Offices

Occupations

Software Configuration Manager
Development Team Lead
Quality Assurance Specialist
IT Security Specialist
Certification Expert
1
Is the configuration management process compliant with DO-178C standards?

Select compliance status.

To ensure that configuration management processes are following the required standards for software development.
2
What is the average processing time for change requests (in hours)?

Enter the average processing time.

To evaluate the efficiency of the change management process.
Min: 0
Target: 48
Max: 72
3
Are all configuration management documents regularly maintained and updated?

Indicate whether documentation is maintained.

To confirm that documentation remains current and effective for the software development lifecycle.
4
Are the tools used for configuration management qualified according to DO-178C?

Select the tool qualification status.

To ensure that all tools used are qualified as per the necessary standards.
5
Is the software verification process in accordance with DO-178C guidelines?

Select the adherence status.

To verify that the verification practices align with industry standards.
6
What is the defect detection rate during the verification phase (percentage)?

Enter the defect detection rate.

To assess the effectiveness of verification activities in identifying defects.
Min: 0
Target: 90
Max: 100
7
Provide a summary of the verification findings.

Summarize the findings from the verification process.

To document the outcomes of the verification process for future reference.
8
What is the date of the last verification review?

Select the date of the last review.

To track the recency of verification reviews and ensure they are performed regularly.
9
Is the software compliant with safety-critical software standards as per DO-178C?

Select compliance status.

To ensure that all safety-critical software adheres to the required safety standards.
10
What percentage of safety requirements have been covered in the assessment?

Enter the percentage of safety requirements covered.

To determine the thoroughness of the safety assessment process.
Min: 0
Target: 95
Max: 100
11
Has a risk assessment been conducted for the software?

Indicate whether a risk assessment was conducted.

To confirm that a proper risk assessment has been performed, ensuring risks are identified and managed.
12
Describe the risk mitigation strategies implemented for identified risks.

Provide details of the risk mitigation strategies.

To document the measures taken to mitigate identified risks in the software.
13
Is the integration testing process compliant with DO-178C requirements?

Select the compliance status.

To ensure that integration testing follows the required standards for software development.
14
What is the execution rate of test cases during integration testing (percentage)?

Enter the percentage of test cases executed.

To measure the effectiveness of the integration testing efforts.
Min: 0
Target: 85
Max: 100
15
Were any defects identified during the integration testing phase?

Indicate whether defects were identified.

To confirm whether the integration testing was effective in identifying issues.
16
Provide a summary of how identified defects were resolved.

Summarize the defect resolution process.

To document the actions taken to resolve defects found during integration testing.
17
Is the quality assurance process compliant with DO-178C standards?

Select the compliance status.

To verify that the quality assurance practices align with the required standards for safety-critical software.
18
What is the percentage of audit findings that have been successfully closed?

Enter the percentage of audit findings closed.

To assess the effectiveness of the quality assurance processes in addressing audit findings.
Min: 0
Target: 75
Max: 100
19
Have all team members received training on the quality assurance processes?

Indicate whether training has been provided.

To confirm that the team is adequately trained to implement quality assurance practices.
20
Describe any quality improvement initiatives undertaken in the last year.

Provide details of quality improvement initiatives.

To document efforts made to enhance the quality assurance processes.

FAQs

The main objective is to ensure that the software development environment used in aerospace and defense applications complies with DO-178C guidelines, maintaining consistency, traceability, and reliability throughout the software development lifecycle.

A well-controlled development environment ensures consistency in software production, reduces the risk of tool-induced errors, and enhances traceability, all of which contribute to the overall quality and safety of avionics software systems.

The checklist covers areas such as development tool selection and qualification, configuration management of the environment, version control systems, build automation, test environments, access control and security measures, and environment documentation and maintenance.

The audit should involve software configuration managers, development team leads, quality assurance specialists, IT security personnel, and certification experts to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the development environment.

Development environment audits should be performed at the project initiation, before major milestones, when significant changes are made to the environment, and periodically (typically annually) to ensure ongoing compliance and effectiveness of the development setup.

Benefits

Ensures compliance with DO-178C development environment requirements

Enhances consistency and reproducibility in software development

Improves traceability between development artifacts and the environment

Facilitates smoother certification processes through comprehensive environment documentation

Reduces risks associated with tool-induced errors and inconsistencies