DO-178C Software Requirements Management Audit Checklist

A comprehensive checklist for auditing software requirements management processes in accordance with DO-178C guidelines for aerospace and defense software development.

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About This Checklist

The DO-178C Software Requirements Management Audit Checklist is an indispensable tool for ensuring the integrity and completeness of software requirements in aerospace and defense applications. This comprehensive checklist addresses the critical aspects of requirements management as outlined in the DO-178C guidelines, helping organizations to establish, document, and maintain clear, traceable, and verifiable software requirements throughout the development lifecycle. By systematically evaluating the requirements management process, from initial capture to final validation, this checklist enables auditors and quality assurance professionals to maintain the highest standards of safety, reliability, and compliance in avionics software development, 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

Requirements Engineering Laboratory

Occupations

Requirements Engineer
Systems Engineer
Software Quality Assurance Specialist
Avionics Software Engineer
Safety Engineer
1
Is there evidence of requirements traceability throughout the software lifecycle?

Select the compliance status.

To ensure all requirements are tracked and linked, which is essential for compliance with DO-178C.
2
Have all software requirements been validated?

Indicate if validation is complete.

Validation is critical to ensure requirements meet intended use.
3
What method was used for requirements validation?

Provide details about the validation method.

To understand the approach taken for validation, which is key for certification.
4
How many software requirements are documented?

Enter the total count of documented requirements.

To assess the scope of the requirements being managed.
Min: 0
Max: 1000
5
What is the review status of the requirements documentation?

Select the review status.

To ensure that requirements have undergone a formal review process.
6
Please provide any comments regarding the software requirements management process.

Enter your comments here.

To gather qualitative feedback that may highlight issues or improvements.
7
Is there a documented process for managing changes to software requirements?

Select the compliance status.

To ensure that changes are controlled and traceable, which is vital for compliance with DO-178C.
8
Are relevant stakeholders involved in the requirements management process?

Indicate if stakeholders are involved.

Stakeholder involvement is crucial for ensuring that requirements are complete and accurate.
9
How often are the requirements reviewed?

Enter the frequency of reviews (e.g., weekly, monthly).

Regular reviews are essential to maintain the accuracy and relevance of requirements.
Min: 1
Max: 12
10
When was the last requirements review conducted?

Enter the date of the last review.

To track the recency of reviews and ensure ongoing compliance.
11
Is the requirements documentation deemed complete by the review team?

Select the completeness status.

Completeness of documentation is critical for certification and operational effectiveness.
12
Describe any issues identified during the requirements management process.

Provide details of any identified issues.

To capture any challenges or areas for improvement in the process.
13
Does the requirements management process comply with regulatory standards?

Select the compliance status.

Compliance with regulatory standards is crucial for certification and operational safety.
14
What score did the documentation review achieve?

Enter the review score (1 to 5).

The review score indicates the quality of the requirements documentation.
Min: 1
Max: 5
15
Is a requirements traceability matrix available?

Indicate if the traceability matrix is available.

A traceability matrix is essential for tracking requirements through development.
16
What version control method is used for managing requirements?

Describe the version control method employed.

Version control is important for maintaining the integrity of requirements documentation.
17
What is the approval status of the requirements documentation?

Select the approval status.

Approval status indicates whether the requirements have been formally accepted.
18
What recommendations do you have for improving the requirements management process?

Provide your recommendations here.

Gathering recommendations can help in enhancing the overall process.
19
Is there a process in place for collecting stakeholder feedback on requirements?

Select the feedback collection status.

Stakeholder feedback is critical for improving the requirements management process.
20
What is the average response time for addressing requirement changes?

Enter the average response time in days.

Response time indicates the efficiency of the requirements management process.
Min: 0
Max: 30
21
Has training on requirements management been provided to the team?

Indicate if training has been provided.

Training ensures that all team members are competent in requirements management practices.
22
What are the main challenges faced in the requirements management process?

Describe the main challenges encountered.

Identifying challenges can lead to targeted improvements in the process.
23
How would you assess the processing time for change requests in the requirements management?

Select the processing time assessment.

Processing time for change requests is a key indicator of the process's responsiveness.
24
Provide any additional comments regarding the effectiveness of the requirements management process.

Enter your additional comments here.

Additional comments may provide valuable insights and context.
25
How would you evaluate the overall quality of the software requirements?

Select the quality level.

Quality evaluation helps ensure that requirements are clear, complete, and verifiable.
26
Is the requirements review process documented and followed?

Indicate if the review process is documented.

A documented process ensures consistency and compliance with standards.
27
How many defects were identified in the requirements documentation?

Enter the total number of defects identified.

Tracking defects helps in assessing the effectiveness of requirements management.
Min: 0
Max: 100
28
Describe the severity of the defects identified in the requirements.

Provide details on the severity of identified defects.

Understanding severity helps prioritize defect resolution.
29
Is the requirements documentation format compliant with industry standards?

Select the documentation format compliance status.

Compliance with documentation standards is essential for clarity and usability.
30
What suggestions do you have for improving the quality of requirements documentation?

Provide your suggestions here.

Gathering suggestions can lead to enhanced documentation practices.

FAQs

The primary focus is to ensure that software requirements management practices in aerospace and defense applications comply with DO-178C guidelines, maintaining the integrity, traceability, and verifiability of requirements throughout the software development lifecycle.

By ensuring thorough and accurate software requirements, the checklist helps prevent misinterpretations, reduces the risk of software defects, and ensures that critical safety features are properly specified, all of which contribute to the overall safety and reliability of avionics systems.

The checklist covers areas such as requirements elicitation, documentation, traceability, validation, change management, and the allocation of system requirements to software requirements.

The audit should involve requirements engineers, systems engineers, software developers, quality assurance personnel, and safety engineers to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the requirements management process.

The checklist helps ensure that software requirements are well-documented, traceable, and compliant with DO-178C guidelines, which facilitates the certification process by providing clear evidence of requirements management practices to certification authorities.

Benefits of DO-178C Software Requirements Management Audit Checklist

Ensures compliance with DO-178C requirements management guidelines

Improves traceability between system and software requirements

Enhances the clarity and verifiability of software requirements

Facilitates early detection of requirements-related issues

Supports smoother certification processes through improved documentation