How to Differentiate Between Verification & Validation

Research and development teams use verification and validation on all new products.

Verification and validation, known as V&V, are proofs that a company has designed and developed its product correctly. Though the two processes are entirely different, many products require certification for both verification and validation. The research and development team monitors verification through all phases of product development. However, verification cannot detect errors from the original design phase. Researchers validate the product in the final phase of development to catch any errors that verification missed. Combining both processes ensures that the product is built according to specifications and that it operates properly.

Instructions

Verification

1. Verify product development with functional testing, known as black box testing. Identify each function of the product and test that it is performing the function properly.

2. Verify your product with structural testing, known as white box testing, by testing the separate physical components to ensure they are operating as designed.

3. Conduct random testing to find errors in development that you would not otherwise detect with the above two techniques. Random testing involves choosing random input as the test cases.

4. Perform static testing to ensure that the product consistently works properly under all circumstances of the original design.

Validation

1. Validate your product with a formal method in the last stage of development. Use mathematics and logic to prove that the design specifications are correct and that the product conforms to the specifications, including the materials used in construction and proper internal functioning.

2. Use fault injection testing, intentionally causing errors, to ensure that the product operates as designed for such occurrences.

3. Conduct hazard analysis to validate that the product has countermeasures in place to reduce the risk of hazards, such as an electrical appliance shutting down when overheated.

Tips & Warnings

• Verification ensures that the team built the product according to specifications. Validation proves that the designers calculated the specifications correctly, and that the product serves the end user in the intended manner.

References

• Business Dictionary: Verification
• Business Dictionary: Validation
• The Free Dictionary: Verification and Validation
• Carnegie Mellon University: Verification/Validation/Certification