Automation and HMI
Automation and HMI platforms may remain in production and service for extended periods. Configuration continuity, component lifecycle planning and controlled change management are therefore primary requirements following platform qualification.
Platform Requirements
Automation and HMI qualification is primarily determined by platform compatibility, continuous-duty stability, configuration continuity and lifecycle-management requirements.
Extended Service Lifecycle
- Automation and HMI platforms may remain in production or service for multiple years
- Spare-unit and maintenance requirements may extend beyond the initial production period
- A component change may introduce multiple qualified configurations across the installed base and may require additional configuration management
Requalification Requirements
- Platform-generation or component changes may require renewed compatibility evaluation
- Unplanned component changes may result in requalification effort and production disruption
- Once qualified, the platform configuration is expected to remain stable within the approved programme scope; subsequent component changes may require compatibility review or requalification
Applicable Memory & Storage
Applicable memory and storage forms are selected according to platform configuration and programme requirements. Final configuration is confirmed against the target board layout, interface requirements, operating conditions and programme lifecycle.
Memory
- DDR3 / DDR4 / DDR5 SO-DIMM
- DDR3 / DDR4 / DDR5 U-DIMM
- Qualification is based on the approved operating configuration for the target platform; profile-based operation is evaluated only where explicitly defined within the project configuration
Storage
- mSATA
- M.2 PCIe 3.0
Qualification Process
Qualification scope is defined according to platform configuration, operating conditions and programme requirements. The stages below describe a typical qualification sequence. Scope and sequence may vary according to project requirements.
Requirements Definition
Platform configuration, operating conditions, lifecycle requirements and applicable interfaces are identified.
Configuration Selection
Memory and storage forms are selected against the target board architecture and programme requirements.
Sample Verification
Initial samples are evaluated before configuration approval.
Platform Validation
Compatibility, stability and applicable performance characteristics are verified against the target platform.
Qualification
The applicable configuration is approved according to the defined programme requirements.
Production Control
Production proceeds under established quality-control procedures. Where configuration control is included in the approved programme scope, production follows the defined configuration and change-review requirements.
Post-Deployment Engineering Support
Failure analysis is applied to returned products or reported field issues where root-cause investigation is required. It is not a sequential stage of the qualification process above.
Automation & HMI Qualification Priorities
Qualification priorities are defined per programme. On controller and HMI platforms held in service over extended periods, the following areas are normally addressed.
Platform Configuration Review
Provide the controller or HMI board specification, memory architecture, storage interface, operating conditions and expected programme lifecycle. SIMORCHIP engineering will review the applicable product configuration and define compatibility, lifecycle and requalification requirements.