ABSTRACT
During the product development process, we must continuously check and ask the question if the product possesses the right characteristics and the product being designed is indeed the right product for the customers. This chapter covers evaluation methods used to answer the aforementioned question by conducting verification and validation tests. Verification is the process of confirming that the product, its systems, and its components meet their respective requirements. The aim of the verification is to ensure that the tested item meets its requirements. Validation, on the other hand, is the process of determining whether the product functions and it possesses the characteristics as expected by its customers when used in its intended environments. The aim of the validation process is to ensure that the right product is designed, and the product can be used and liked by its intended customers. Thus, customer participation in evaluating the whole product is recommended for the validation. The evaluations can be conducted by using objective as well as subjective tests by using data gathering methods involving observations, communications, and experimentation. This chapter describes methods used for verifications and validation of various types of requirements and provides illustrations on the applications of these methods.
