The SDV Software Factory
Last updated
Last updated
By Achim Nonnenmacher, ETAS
The challenges faced by OEMs in recent years have underscored a critical need for a systematic approach to software development: the SDV Software Factory. Headlines such as software-related delays in vehicle production, unsatisfied customers, or recalls due to software quality issues are becoming all too common. These issues highlight three fundamental goals: increasing software quality, boosting productivity, and meeting deadlines.
At its core, the SDV Software Factory is about applying a systematic, industrialized approach to software development, inspired by principles from the manufacturing world. The term itself dates back to the Japanese IT and telecommunications industry of the 1970s, which aimed to increase software quality and efficiency. Drawing parallels with the Toyota Production System, the software factory optimizes design through standardization, streamlines processes, focuses on continuous improvement, and fosters a culture that empowers employees to adopt new ways of working.
The SDV Software Factory achieves these goals through three key pillars: design optimization, process automation, and continuous improvement. Much like modular hardware components, software today is designed in standardized, isolated containers for efficient reuse and mass production. Continuous improvement, exemplified through CI/CD pipelines, enables teams to iteratively refine and deliver software faster, while automation eliminates manual inefficiencies, reducing waste ("muda") and accelerating development cycles.
The scope of a modern software factory spans all aspects of the development lifecycle: coding, building, integration, and verification/validation (V&V). Each step aims to remove bottlenecks, streamline workflows, and shorten feedback cycles. Take the build process as an example: in traditional systems, software builds can take up to 20 hours—far too slow for agile iteration. By optimizing pipelines, engineers can reduce build times to just a few minutes, enabling rapid testing and validation. The same principle applies to integration and V&V, where automation replaces manual handovers, and engineers receive near-instant feedback on code quality.
Today, the software factory primarily focuses on single software stacks (e.g., POSIX or AUTOSAR). However, the future vision expands to include the entire SDV ecosystem. This means automating processes across multiple domains—like ADAS, infotainment, and body control systems—integrating them into a cohesive whole that reflects the complexity of the modern vehicle.
Consider an example in Edge and Cloud software development. The process begins with creating classical code or training AI/ML models. Next comes the build step, followed by continuous integration, testing, and delivery.
At every stage, the goal is to tighten feedback cycles. If a bottleneck exists—say, a slow build system or manual handover—it is identified, optimized, and automated. Real-world feedback from vehicles in operation is incorporated back into the pipeline to identify and resolve issues efficiently. Over time, this iterative process leads to higher-quality software, greater productivity, and fewer manual interventions.
The SDV Software Factory will evolve to encompass the entire lifecycle, from requirements to operations. The aim is not only to optimize individual pipelines but also to integrate workflows across all vehicle systems. For example, automating the build and integration pipelines for both ADAS and infotainment systems, then merging these systems into the fully integrated vehicle.
In summary, the SDV Software Factory is the automotive industry’s answer to the need for high-quality, efficient software development. By adopting principles of automation, continuous improvement, and systematic optimization, OEMs can meet the growing demands of software-defined vehicles while ensuring reliability, scalability, and speed.
