24 Test Engineering Trends for 2024

Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Test Stations, Big Data and More…

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For high-tech products to evolve, developers and manufacturers must embrace and implement all the new-ness that is pushing the world forward. This mentality cannot only apply to their products but to their processes as well. With this in mind, we must never forget that test is there every step of the way and must evolve right alongside the product. With this in mind, here are 24 test strategies/methodologies/processes that should be considered as we move ahead into the new year.

1) Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Maybe you’ve heard of it, but AI is a tiny new thing happening that people are mildly interested in.

Who are we kidding? AI is single-handedly changing the world and test is no different. When integrated correctly, AI can be used to automate the analysis of virtual test data, helping identify patterns, anomalies, and potential issues. Machine learning algorithms can also be employed to optimize test processes and predict equipment maintenance needs.

2) Test Automation

While not the newest trend in test, the growth of test automation is noticeable. To remain competitive in any high-tech industry, a major differentiator has been automating test case generation, execution, and analysis. Mechanical automation with robots is commonly being used to perform repetitive and complex tests, reducing human error. The overall results are improved efficiency, accuracy and ROI.

3) Virtual Test Stations

Manufacturers are looking to bring test systems into a virtual world to leverage IT technology scaling options to modernize and optimize their testing processes. Virtual test systems involve replicating real world testing environments and conditions in a digital or virtual space. This is done through computer simulations, digital twin technology, and other virtualization methods. This comes with several benefits, including cost savings, improved efficiency, and enhanced product development.

4) Test Standardization

With many large companies working in silos, test standardization can sometimes feel like a fantasy. Whether teams are separated by geography or department, standardizing test equipment and processes company-wide pays off quickly; and people are recognizing that. With minimal training, employees can support one another, either onsite or remotely. Plus, when all variants leverage the same software and core, getting a new system up and running takes almost no training or ramp-up time.

5) IoT Testing

With the proliferation of smart data and IoT devices, there is a growing need for testing their connectivity, security, and interoperability. This applies to both the products themselves and the smart factories where they are developed. As 5G networks become more widespread, it is essential to ensure devices can take full advantage of the technology.

6) Digital Twins

Digital twins are integral to the concept of Industry 4.0. They are extremely detailed and dynamic virtual representations physical objects, systems, or processes. Their purpose is to replicate a physical object, system or process in a digital environment that simulates real-world conditions. Testing digital twins is necessary to ensure their accuracy and overall project success.

7) Human-Machine Interaction Testing

With all of the benefits of AI comes a dark side as well. As they say, with great power comes great responsibility. To keep everything on the up and up the surrounding practices need to be monitored and validated. Testing the user experience and safety of human-robot interaction and human-AI interfaces is a consideration AI-implementers must face.

8) AI Ethics Testing

One of the major benefits of AI technology is the idea of implementing decision-making based purely on data. Removing human subjectivity is a major asset for test as a whole; AI systems are thus being tested for ethical concerns. Those implementing the tool are monitoring bias and fairness as AI follows its decision-making processes.

9) Automated Vision Inspection

The technology behind automated vision inspection is improving year after year, encouraging 100s of companies to rethink their manual processes. In particular, the medical industry has really embraced the tool for its benefits. For many, simply the speed of machine vision is enough incentive to make the switch. In life sciences, often the volume is less of a concern, but the incredible accuracy of the results is priceless. Both are immediate results of implementing automated vision inspection.

10) Properly Leveraging Big Data

Big data technologies can collect, store, and process data for actionable insights. There are 2 major ways big data can transform product development and manufacturing. With historical and real-time data companies can make informed decisions to continually improve their products. They can also use this same data to analyze the state of the manufacturing floor and plan predictive maintenance accordingly.

11) Edge Device Testing

Edge devices are computing devices that are situated at the periphery or "edge" of a network. This keeps them closer to the source of data. They are used to collect, process, and transmit data locally, without sending the information to a centralized data center or cloud server. Testing at the edge of networks, where the data is generated, is gaining importance as more processing happens at the edge.

12) Shifting Towards Modularity

More and more companies are rethinking their test equipment and investing more into smaller, modular components. This applies both towards hardware and software. Swappable components basically turn your test equipment into transformers. Sharing equipment between departments and products streamlines processes across the board. Added bonus: modular test sequences also simplify debugging, saving hours of frustration to the coder.

13) Sustainability Testing

With the climate becoming what it is, extra measures need to be taken to keep it going. Testing products for their environmental impact and ensuring they meet sustainability standards is becoming less and less optional.

14) Continuous Testing

Continuous testing is a software development and testing practice that involves running automated tests throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC). The goal is to provide fast and ongoing feedback to both the development and quality assurance teams. This ensures testing keeps pace with the continuous delivery of software. When this is integrated into the development process, it enables fast feedback and better software quality.

15) Generic Test Stations

Generic or common core equipment allows companies to reuse their expensive test equipment for different products and different stages of the product lifecycle. It also addresses scalability quickly. If a product is ramping up or ramping down…no problem. Reassign that equipment for another purpose!

16) Design for Test (DFT)

As high-tech products become more complex and OEMs face increasing competition, the DFT stage adds enormous value to product development processes. This allows product designers to integrate certain feature functionalities like smart chips, measurement capabilities, and diagnostic routines into their product designs. These elements make it easy to run automated tests on all functionality, generate valuable data for analysis and troubleshooting, and speed up the product development cycle.

17) Penetration Testing

Penetration testing attempts to breach specific vulnerabilities in a controlled manner. This involves simulating various scenarios, such as network penetration, web application attacks, social engineering, and physical security breaches, to evaluate the security posture of a specific target. Minimally, this should be performed annually to ensure the measures in place remain effective.

18) Cybersecurity Testing

Different from penetration testing, cyber security testing has a broader scope and can involve multiple assessment techniques. It encompasses vulnerability scanning, security assessments, risk analysis, compliance checks, and security monitoring. It measures the presence of vulnerabilities, the effectiveness of the security system and the overall security strategy. With the increasing threat of cyberattacks, cyber security testing is essential for all products and systems and should be performed early and regularly.

19) Environmental Testing

Products are tested for their performance under extreme environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, and vibration. For example, it is typical in automotive testing to validate performance from -40°C - +80°C.

20) Active Alignment

In many manufacturing processes, 2D and 3D component alignment and positioning are critical for a product to work properly and deliver ultimate performance. Automated active alignment solutions quickly and accurately assemble products like camera modules, inkjet heads, µdisplays, die based sensors, HID lamps and other high-end products.

21) Inline Systems

As more tasks become automated, inline systems are being developed to truly liberate the operator. In-line solutions can cover a wide range of complex electronic, industrial and consumer products with few limitations. This is where integrated test, measurement, vision and automation expertise come together for impressive benefits.

22) Regulatory Compliance Testing

In industries like aerospace, industrial and life sciences, meeting compliance regulations can be a massive roadblock to getting a product out the door. At the end of the day, that’s probably a good thing, but certainly makes product development more difficult. Proper regulatory compliance testing supports keeping up with evolving regulations and ensuring products meet all required standards.

23) Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)

Outsourcing test offers a long list of benefits that comes with essentially gaining an entire test team overnight. The breadth of experience that includes is a bit mind-blowing and allows manufacturers to really focus on their own products. Now, companies are taking it to the next level with BPO. With the right BPO partner, test is no longer the burden it used to be and this is achieved through trust and open communication.

24) Bring Test in Early

To simplify test implementation and truly accelerate a product release, more and more companies are looking at test at the beginning of the design stage. Focusing solely on the product and its functionalities and treating test as an afterthought is a costly mistake. Designing the test process in parallel to the product design costs far less and saves a ton of backtracking.

These trends reflect the always-evolving landscape of test engineering, driven by technology and the need for high-quality, reliable products in every industry. It is vital to continually adapt to new trends to stay competitive and meet consumer demands.

🍾✨ Cheers to 2024!

For any questions on improving your test strategy, please contact Averna.