Guide to Verification and Validation

Verification and validation are processes that are used together for assuring that a product, service, or system fulfils its intended purpose. The two processes are seen as essential in the life cycle of any complex system. The development of any system is not complete without ensuring that the implementation is consistent with the specifications. Implementing verification and validation provides assurance that the product or service meets its required specifications, including any safety requirements. The outputs generated by the processes will form part of the assurance evidence supplied within product and system safety cases that lead to system acceptance and any necessary certification. Any organisation applying to become an AEO should ensure that its verification and validation arrangements meet the minimum level required for the complexity of its projects or contracts.

Verification and validation is undertaken through the full life cycle to ensure that the product or service correctly performs all its intended functions and that it does not perform any adverse unintended function. System verification determines whether the system, its elements, and its interfaces satisfy their respective requirements and is undertaken throughout the concept, development and early production stages. Validation ensures that the final system meets all the stakeholder requirements and is typically undertaken through testing and commissioning during the latter production stage to enable system handover.