Understanding ADG Requirements: More Than Just Listening
There's zero margin for error in Aerospace, Defense, and Government (ADG) projects. Mission-critical applications demand absolute reliability—failure is not an option. Clear communication of your mission requirements is essential in this high-stakes environment, but it's only the beginning. True success comes when your vision is internalized by your system integration partner and reflected accurately in the design process.
At DMC, we believe early demonstration of understanding is pivotal to meeting deadlines and budgets. Through clear, intentional designs, we don't just listen—we prove we understand.
Designs as a Mirror of Understanding
Designs are more than technical blueprints; they are a shadow of the end product, providing early clarity and alignment. At this stage, DMC helps you visualize:
- How we intend to fulfill your mission requirements
- A rough timeline for solution implementation
- A preliminary cost estimate
These design artifacts mark a critical juncture in our software engineering process. They serve as checkpoints to refine your vision, add or remove elements, and ensure ongoing alignment. Equally important, DMC takes responsibility for:
- Linking every design element directly to a specific requirement
- Clearly demonstrating how each requirement is addressed
- Maintaining these connections as both requirements and designs evolve
This commitment forms the second link in a robust chain of custody between your vision and the delivered solution.
Integrating COTS Solutions for Seamless Traceability
To meet the complex needs of ADG projects, DMC leverages proven COTS solutions that are integrated into our software engineering process. Our approach aligns with NASA's 7150.2 guidelines and embodies our A.R.T.ful engineering culture—Accountable, Reliable, and Traceable.
We manage requirements using Monday.com through a dynamic Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM) and evolve designs in Atlassian Confluence. Our deep expertise in both platforms allows us to build seamless, user-friendly workflows through API integration. This integration ensures that users spend less time navigating tools and more time focused on engineering excellence.
Bridging the Gap: Requirements to Designs
DMC marks each design element with a unique ID from the RTM as designs take shape. Our internal tools automatically scan these designs to generate a Requirements Coverage Table (RCT)—a synchronized, real-time view that shows:
- Each requirement's current text (synced from Monday.com)
- The designs that address each requirement
- Direct links to both the requirement and the corresponding designs
This bidirectional traceability breaks down information silos and ensures that every mission requirement is visibly covered by the design. It also provides complete transparency and proof of understanding, a necessity in mission-critical applications.
At DMC, our mission is to transform your vision into a reliable, traceable reality using advanced digital tools and deep engineering expertise. By combining robust COTS solutions, agile integration, and a disciplined software engineering process, we ensure your ADG project is mission-ready from the start.
Your success is our mission. Learn more about DMC's Test & Measurement Automation Solutions and contact us for your next project.
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Explore our other key topics in NPR 7150.2 compliance through the remainder of our ADG Mission-Critical Applications series:
- Building the Right Way with ARTful Design – Understand NASA NPR 7150.2 standards and their use for mission-critical ADG systems. We demonstrate how using A.R.T.ful design, COTS tools, and robust documentation strategies helps to meet and exceed those requirements.
- It All Starts with Documentation – Learn about the tools and digital ecosystems that form the baseline for persistent, searchable, and traceable project knowledge and planning. We’ll show how our use of platforms like Confluence, Monday.com, and SharePoint lays the groundwork for compliance with SWE-013 and other documentation-related requirements.
- Entrusting Your Mission's Objectives to a Partner – Communication is the first step in traceability. Learn how DMC captures client intent from day one, linking early conversations and contract documents into Requirement Traceability Matrices using Monday.com. This aligns directly with SWE-050 and SWE-052.
- The Plan Is the Plan Until the Plan Changes – Change happens. Learn how DMC's configuration and change management systems allow us to adapt while preserving traceability and alignment with SWE-079.
- Turning Your Vision into Reality – Design becomes code. Learn how DMC's traceability extends into source code across multiple platforms (NI LabVIEW, Python, NI VeriStand), and how we maintain this alignment without overburdening developers.
- Quality Matters – Close the loop with testing and assurance. Learn how DMC utilizes technology such as GitLab, automated testing frameworks, and custom tooling to perform code reviews, trace test results to requirements, and verify quality compliance with NASA-STD-8739.8.