Simultaneous development and qualification in the fast-changing 3.5" hard-disk-drive technology

This paper presents an enhanced approach to utilizing test as an aid to maturing the 3.5" hard-disk drive (HDD) to improve time to market. It focuses on designing tests that provide maximum feedback to the design function on the designs "goodness or maturity" and the strategy focuses on consolidating different tests done by different groups (including selective customer testing) to maximize useful information flowing back to the design team. To improve design weakness identification, the paper offers an alternative to performing design verification testing (DVT) that focuses on problem discovery rather than specification compliance. This paper also covers conformance testing as testimony to the successful approach taken on DVT testing. Although not all elements of the consolidated test strategy have been fully implemented, results so far are very encouraging.