Test Automation Plan / Test Plan

Test automation plan forms a very integral part of the strategy for testing as well as streamlining the initial working of any machine or instrument. A test plan is a document which has been designed to lay down the systematic approach to testing of any electronic device. The document is an overall outline of the approach to be followed while testing the electronic device. It outlines a workflow for checking if the machine falls on it’s contemplated design as well as working specifications.

The person who is assigned with the job of formulating an initial overall test plan is known as a test engineer.
In its most basic form, a test plan contains the following specifications.

Design Verification or Compliance test

The design verification or the compliance test module is aimed to be performed on the essential and trivial units of the entire product, and is usually made during the initial phases of the overall product testing.

Manufacturing or Production test

This type of a test is performed at the time of the preparation or/as well as the assembly of the product. This is a repetitive testing procedure and the basic motive behind it is quality control as well as performance verification.

Acceptance or Commissioning test

The acceptance or the commissioning test is duly performed at the time of the delivery or the installation of the actual electronic product.

Service and Repair test

This type of a test basically comes under maintenance testing of the product and can be performed during any time of the service life of the electronic hardware product.

Regression test

This type of a testing procedure is to be performed for a pre-existing operational product. The basic aim behind this type of a test is to verify the smooth functioning of the existing functionalities, upon any alterations in the environmental parameters.

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Any basic test plans for a hardware product basically consist of three different modules or types of testing procedures.

• Pre-Functional Testing
  Carried out before functional testing, this type of a testing procedure checks a component of the final product if the specifications were achieved or not. This is the very first testing procedure any hardware product undergoes.
• Functional Testing
  This consists of a black box testing procedure performed on any existing system, prior to the final delivery of the product. It aims at testing the various functional modules of the product for their smooth behaviour.
• System Testing
  This type of testing procedure is performed prior to the delivery stage of the product and ensembles the combined working of the entire system together in itself.

Article published January 12th, 2009
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