Capability Assurance

Our progressive approach to assurance starts with establishing clear strategies, which define the key milestones, stakeholder responsibilities and the processes for detailed planning and governance. Next we establish a framework, usually in electronic evidence repository format, within which we capture and correlate detailed evidence requirements, roles and responsibilities, dates and opportunities to gather evidence. Finally, we record evidence outcomes, presenting a clear, auditable record of which requirements have been satisfied.

We provide our services in any domain, whether the capability is based on hardware or software, and whether it lies in the Land, Sea, Air, Command, Control, Communications, Computing & Intelligence (C4I) or other non-defence arena.

"Prudent management of the Integrated Test Evaluation and Acceptance Programme saved the project £3 million. Before the equipment is accepted into service there has to be confirmation that it thoroughly satisfies the identified needs. An Integrated Test Evaluation and Acceptance programme provides the impartial assurance and independent auditing needed for final acceptance. Closer co-ordination of test, evaluation and acceptance activities with other projects and the Air Warfare Centre has reduced duplication and saved £3 million."
National Audit Office MOD Major Projects Report 2006

The benefits of our approach are many but include:

• Supports key decisions by presenting a structured ‘acceptance case’ backed by a robust audit trail, generated using a structured systems engineering approach (aligned with ISO15288 and AOF)
• Provides clarity of stakeholder responsibility across all elements of the capability
• Minimises risk through the early identification of all the objectives that have to be achieved, monitoring progress and introducing specific accountability to the relevant stakeholders
• Assures the successful delivery of capability by integrating stakeholders and elements of capability, for example, training, equipment, logistics, policy and procedures, across the programme lifecycle
• Cost savings brought about through the optimisation and rationalisation of testing and evaluation, maximising the use of existing evidence and above all avoiding the need for re-work through progressive assurance