Israel Aircraft Industries

Israel Aircraft Industries – TAMAM Division

IAI is Israel's largest concern and a world leader for the manufacture of aerospace and large electronic systems. IAI develops, manufactures and maintains embedded computer systems, and has introduced many new methods and technologies in software engineering. All of IAI's software divisions have obtained ISO-9000 certification (including ISO 9000-3).

IAI's corporate software process improvement program (SPIP) is following the CMM model as a basis for gradual and continuous improvement for all the divisions that produce software intensive systems. IAI's TAMAM division has conducted two official CMM-based assessments (CBA-IPI) of the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) with impressive results (Level 2 in 1996 and Level 3 in 1997). The business characteristics and goals of IAI are similar to those of many European companies.

IAI’s engineering process is, in general, typical of the embedded systems development community in Israel and Europe. All the divisions at IAI developing software intensive embedded systems share common processes with slight differences for different product lines. A main thrust of the centrally managed Software Process Improvement Program (SPIP) is to share best practices and to promote their insertion across the company.

Software is an essential part of all IAI's advanced products, with up to 50% of all engineering effort devoted to its development, and often is a quality differentiator and provider of added value. This is the reason for IAI's long term investment in processes improvement. MODIST's results will allow IAI to bring forward the absorption of a new technology with significant commercial benefits both in terms of productivity and product quality.

Israel Aircraft Industries Core Business

Core Business: IAI as is a major international manufacturer of aerospace and large electronic systems, as such it is crucial to supply first quality products with the highest reliability possible. IAI is a leader in Israel for the introduction of new methods and technologies in software engineering.

Exploitation plan: Distributed software development is a day to day essential activity in IAI projects process. The High Tech products developed involve intensive distributed software development, which is then embedded in the products.

IAI will disseminate the MODIST method and tool all over its different divisions, as a part of its 'knowledge management program'. In this program, a major issue is the reuse of assets developed in one division, in other divisions' products.

This kind of work needs a method and tool which will help management to take the right decisions concerning all risks and quality factors of the distributed partners.

Anticipated impact on core business: IAI will gain considerable IAI experience of SPC methods and enhance its current process measurement activities. Business will also benefit from MODIST in developing its technical capability, increasing its products quality and decreasing its production costs.

www.iai.co.il