Quality Engineering – Ensuring software quality

Why systematic quality engineering is crucial for industrial software projects

Reliable software is not a matter of chance. It is the result of a consistent approach to quality that is embedded in development processes right from the start. Quality engineering encompasses all measures designed to ensure that software products meet the defined requirements, operate stably and can be developed reliably throughout their entire life cycle.

ITQ supports companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector in systematically integrating quality assurance into their software development processes. This begins with the structuring of requirements and test cases, extends to the selection of suitable test environments and tools, and continues through to the automation of tests and integration with CI/CD pipelines. The aim is to achieve reproducible, scalable software quality, not just at the end of a project, but continuously throughout the entire development process.

Quality engineering poses a particular challenge in industrial software development: software and hardware are closely interlinked, test environments must be capable of simulating machine behaviour, and faults that are only discovered on the actual machine result in considerable time and cost overruns. ITQ possesses the necessary expertise in control software, embedded systems and agile development processes to implement quality assurance effectively at all levels.

Modern quality engineering approaches combine manual and automated testing, structured test case management, simulation and virtual commissioning to form an integrated quality system. Through continuous integration and automated reporting, software quality becomes transparent, measurable and can be assured on an ongoing basis.

Your benefits at a glance:

A transparent and measurable overview of software quality
Early detection of errors through automated testing at all stages of development
Reduced testing effort on the actual machine
A clear and documented test case structure
Shorter feedback cycles through continuous integration
Consistent software quality, even with frequent changes and enhancements
Systematic validation of refactoring and software optimisations

Finding the right solution together

Your personal contact for software engineering will be happy to advise you on your specific enquiry.

Get in touch now for a no-obligation consultation.

Kilian Messmer

ITQ Branch Manager, North Rhine-Westphalia

„The automation of regression tests is the foundation for reliable further development. Only when every change is automatically tested can a team deliver quickly and reliably.“

Quality engineering does not happen at the end – it must be ensured right from the start

In many companies, quality assurance in software projects is carried out at a late stage and is often unsystematic. Tests are carried out manually, are incomplete or are poorly documented. Errors are frequently only discovered once the system is running on the actual machine or during commissioning. This results in a considerable investment of time and money in analysis, correction and rework.

At the same time, the complexity and pace of change in industrial software projects are increasing. Control software, embedded systems and networked components must work together reliably. Without structured quality assurance, there is a growing risk that changes will cause unintended side effects and that system stability will suffer in the long term.

This is where systematic quality engineering comes into play: test cases are recorded in a structured manner, distributed across appropriate test levels and gradually automated. Simulations and virtual commissioning enable early-stage testing without the need for physical hardware. CI/CD mechanisms ensure that every change is automatically tested – and that quality is not left to chance.

Systematically embed quality assurance

Typical challenges within a company:

Manual, incomplete or undocumented tests
Errors are only detected on the actual machine
Lack of test automation and CI/CD integration
Unclear testing responsibilities and a lack of test case structure
Significant regression testing effort required for changes and enhancements

Only end-to-end, automated quality assurance – from unit tests through to virtual commissioning – can produce stable, reproducible industrial software systems of high quality.

Services relating to quality engineering and test automation

We ensure software quality systematically and on an ongoing basis – from the analysis of existing testing activities, through the introduction of structured testing processes, to full automation and CI/CD integration. Practical and tailored to industrial software systems.

An overview of our services

Analysis of existing testing activities, testing gaps and quality processes
Introduction of structured testing methods and test case management
Development of unit, integration and system tests for control and embedded software
Setting up test environments, simulations and virtual commissioning set-ups
Integration of test processes into CI/CD pipelines and automated reporting

Technological expertise

Test automation for PLC, embedded and networked software systems
Unit and integration tests in accordance with IEC 61131-3 and C/C++
Simulation environments and virtual commissioning (VIBN)
CI/CD integration: Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps and similar platforms
Software quality analysis: ISO 25010, TIOBE metrics and code review processes
Test management tools and structured test case documentation

Procedure for implementing Quality Engineering

The introduction of systematic quality assurance in industrial software projects requires a structured approach. ITQ analyses existing processes, develops a suitable testing methodology and, step by step, builds a robust, automated quality engineering system.

Project phases

Analysis of testing activities

Identification of current testing practices, tools, responsibilities and quality gaps in the development process.

Definition of the test concept

Defining suitable test methods, test levels and acceptance criteria tailored to the system architecture and development process.

Setting up test environments

Defining appropriate measures, architectures and security mechanisms.

Introduction to test automation

Implementation of automated tests at all relevant levels, as well as integration with continuous integration systems.

Continuous quality measurement

Establishment of reporting structures and regular analysis of test results to enable step-by-step process optimisation.

Quality Engineering in Practice

Sector: Logistics, Mechanical Engineering

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Further ITQ solutions

The services described form part of ITQ’s comprehensive service portfolio. ITQ combines technological expertise, a methodical approach and a deep understanding of processes to deliver sustainable solutions throughout the entire life cycle.

FAQs – Quality Engineering

What is meant by ‘quality engineering’ in software development?

Quality engineering describes the systematic approach of integrating software quality into development processes from the outset, rather than checking it at the end of a project – through structured testing, automation and continuous feedback.

Why are manual tests not sufficient in industrial software projects?

Manual testing is time-consuming, prone to errors and cannot be repeated consistently when changes are made frequently. Automated testing provides rapid feedback on every change and ensures software quality in the long term, even as complexity increases.

What is the difference between unit tests, integration tests and system tests?

Unit tests examine individual software components in isolation. Integration tests assess how multiple components interact. System tests validate the entire system under realistic conditions – ideally through simulation or virtual commissioning without a physical machine.

What is a virtual commissioning and what are its benefits?

During virtual commissioning, the machine’s behaviour is modelled in a simulation, enabling control software to be tested before the physical system is actually set up. This reduces errors on the physical machine and significantly shortens the commissioning time.

Any further questions ...

How does ITQ support the implementation of quality engineering in existing projects?

ITQ first analyses existing testing activities and identifies any gaps. Building on this, the testing strategy, tools and level of automation are introduced in stages – tailored to the existing team, the system architecture and the development process.