The modern assurance computing platform-progress report

Abstract

The product assurance organization of the AC Rochester Division of General Motors has embarked on a pilot program to develop and evaluate a departmental computing system to support their assurance activities. These activities have been evaluated with regard to the degree that they could make use of computer technology. Exhaustive system requirements were developed in the areas of human engineering, operation, technical, hardware, communication, business, and administrative requirements. Although this pilot program performed very well, shortcomings were identified in five specific areas. The common denominator of these various concerns was found to be the operating systems involved with various application packages, specifically, the Unix and DOS operating systems. A cost-effective approach utilizing a Unix-based workstation in the local area network has been found to be one possible solution to this situation. This pilot program is the continuation of an effort to develop an assurance computing platform.<>