Hero or villain

Is the test engineer a hero or villain? The latter term might be the choice of many producers of electronic products, from designers to production managers. For such skeptics, it's worth repeating that test adds as much value as any other aspect of a product's journey from concept to consumer. Hence the adage that test is a vitamin (a healthy boost to the economical production of a quality product), not an aspirin (a treatment for some unforeseen illness).

Knowledgeable upper management knows that perfect designs and defect-free production processes are impossible goals and that efforts to approach those goals can be prohibitively expensive. The judicious deployment of test equipment and test-engineering expertise is as much a part of a successful product as design and other efforts brought to bear.

But perhaps test engineers should aim for more than parity with their design counterparts. In a new book (Ref. 1), Brian P. Senese, an electrical engineer who has held various engineering-management positions, implies that test engineers have more opportunity than other engineers to enhance their companies' profitability and their own careers. Test managers, he says, are uniquely positioned to understand full system operation—including RF hardware performance, software development, and mechanical considerations—and to gain valuable project-management and customer-relationship experience.

Of course, being in a position to gain such a broad understanding doesn't guarantee that you will do so—that requires effort on your part. Failure to exert that effort can place you at the heart of the stereotypical blameworthy test organization, which Senese describes as "poorly staffed with unmotivated, marginally qualified individuals." To avoid that trap, Senese suggests developing documentation and training courses that will help you build technical knowledge and your verbal communications skills. I might add writing technical articles and participating in conferences as well.

The emerging design-for-test area (see p. 10) offers a wealth of opportunities to demonstrate test's importance to your company and customers. Don't be shy about taking credit.