Empowering Agile Transformations with Software Platforms & AI Tools

Agile Transformation – It’s a journey with many considerations…

It is quite common to encounter ups/downs, obstacles and challenges while you undertake the journey to a faster paced, continuous development, and agile approach to working.  You may have to adapt and evolve along the way.  Digital disruption, artificial intelligence, new technology, regulations/standards, and quality are essential to consider along the path. 

The great news is, there are tools/platforms which can help support you and enable a positive journey.

PEDCO’s tools are intended to help you navigate and be successful as you ride the agile path. 

Frameworks and Quality Management Systems  

There are different agile frameworks available for consideration. SAFe® (Scaled Agile Framework) is the #1 leveraged framework for scaled agility. It applies the power of agile while also leveraging the more extensive knowledge pools of systems thinking and lean product development. The SAFe® framework builds on the principles and core values of transparency, alignment, respect for people, and relentless improvement.  

A QMS (Quality Management System) is a structured framework that outlines the processes, procedures, and responsibilities for achieving quality policies and objectives. It ensures products and services meet customer and regulatory requirements through systematic processes, safety measures, effectiveness, traceability, and verification and validation.  A QMS is important for agile approaches as it ensures regulatory compliance, supports continuous improvement, provides necessary documentation and traceability, and enhances adaptability and efficiency.  

Traditional QMS systems were sequential, sometime referred to as waterfall.  In the traditional approach, the concept and requirements were defined first, then the design was completed, next there was product development and implementation, and finally there was the verification and validation phase.  

As you evolve to an agile approach of working, your QMS should also evolve to be aligned with your lean agile organization. In a Lean QMS, you build the solution incrementally, organize around value, build in quality, continuously verify and validate, and release solutions on demand.  There is still focus on requirements, designs, implementation and verification, though now these are comprehended incrementally.

PEDCO’s Platforms/Tools

Applied SAFe®: PEDCO combined the foundation of the SAFe® framework with the value of a Lean QMS and created a software platform tool.  Applied SAFe® is a platform implementation of SAFe® as a Lean QMS.  This platform is a comprehensive agile QMS with defined roles, activities, templates, guidelines, metrics, tailoring, milestones, phases, and more.  The tool is sanctioned by Scaled Agile Inc. and is kept consistent with the latest released version of the SAFe® framework.  It fosters customization, tailoring and ability for companies to connect to their existing data, processes, and other assets.  Furthermore, it includes compliance mechanisms and capabilities for regulated environments enabling business agility in a regulatory compliant way.

AI Tools

• AI Companion: PEDCO uses AI technology to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of QMS processes by providing accurate, timely, and relevant information, and supporting targeted and effective staff training.
• AI Audit Pro: Today’s auditing approaches are often manual, time consuming and offer potential for inconsistencies and errors.  AuditPro is a new emerging tool currently in the pilot stage.  It can be used with any QMS system, enables a structured understanding of data and evaluation of criteria (regulations/standards), and automatically generates evaluation reports. 

Applied SAFE® coupled with the AI Tools offer the opportunity for many benefits including less time needed for interpretation of SAFe®, Reduced ramp up time for new hires, less SAFe® coaching/consulting needed, and features to establish compliance to standards.  

Emerging ASQMS standard – What is it and how can PEDCO tools help?

Automotive Software Quality Management System (ASQMS) is a new standard from China. ASQMS outlines the quality foundation for the global automotive industry in the SDV (Software Defined Vehicle) era.  It is expected that this standard will be regulated by an authority above the OEM level (ie the STATE/China). 

Key features of the new standard include QMS expectations, software classifications, user and data security, and much more. These features are being comprehended by PEDCO for a future enhancement of the Audit Pro tool. 

Conclusion  

Software Platforms and Tools positively aid and empower business agile transformations. Consideration must be given for the ever-evolving environment, AI advancing technology, regulations and quality. PEDCO’s Applied SAFe®, AI Companion, and AuditPro tools are here to progressively enable companies to successfully navigate your agile path while enabling consistency with regulatory standards. 

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Below are some selected videos mentioned during the discussion.