Software Validation
At Minitab, we recognize that the software products we create must meet the needs and expectations of our customers within the constraints of feasibility, product integrity, and company viability. They must be the right products and they must operate in the right way.
We also recognize that the quality of software is multidimensional. Quality is not limited by one definition. In creating software, we will seek to balance all aspects of high quality. We will create software products that:
- Are available to customers in a timely fashion
- Are reliable and accurate in their operation
- Present an intuitive interface for both input and output
- Contain features that help customers do their work better
Finally, we recognize that the pursuit for quality is a journey with no end. We will continuously improve both the processes used to create our software products, and the software products created for our customers.
All statistical and graphical output is validated for market readiness using one or more of the following methods:
- Validated by hand or computed calculation. This may involve visual verification of a graph or comparison of a statistical result with an independent calculation using a calculator or computer.
- Validated by comparison to other software. One or more existing statistical software products may be used for comparison. Occasionally, specialized software products are used, such as software for analyzing time series data. This form of validation is performed when the answers cannot be easily calculated by hand or engineered code.
- Validated by comparison to textbook examples. Data and output from respected textbooks may be used for comparison. Recognizing the inherent risk in published data, this form of validation is performed in combination with one or both of the two previous methods.
There are also a number of controls built into the software development process that contribute to ongoing validation. These are:
- Technical support is provided for all of our software products. When customers report problems, our technical staff verifies the nature of the problem, records the details, and determines an appropriate method for addressing the problem.
- Minitab has developed extensive automated test suites to verify the accuracy of product functionality. These suites are systematically run to regression test all new versions and conversions of the software. They are also run to validate behavior of the Minitab software in new operating systems as they become available.
- The software is submitted to a beta test period prior to release. This test helps to assure consistent results across a variety of hardware and software configurations.
Software Validation Kits
Minitab Statistical Software Validation Kits are downloadable ZIP files which contain details about our validation process, software development life cycle, and other relevant information.
Download the Minitab 15 Software Validation Kit (ZIP file)
If you have any questions about our software validation process, please Contact Us.
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