Tier 1 Automotive Supplier MBD Process
Discover how SimuQuest enabled a transition from prototyping to production-level software and improved development efficiency.
Project Description
A major automotive supplier collaborated with SimuQuest to establish a Model-Based Design (MBD) process that would enable efficient production-level software development. While the company had successfully used MathWorks tools like MATLAB and Simulink for prototyping, they struggled to adapt these tools for full-scale production. SimuQuest provided MBD implementation and engineering support services, allowing the supplier to streamline processes, automate key functions, and focus on their core application (IP) development. This project aimed to reduce development time, increase team efficiency, and support the integration of complex systems into production workflows.
Challenges
Transitioning from prototyping to production software development posed significant challenges for the supplier. Much of the team’s time and resources were diverted to BIOS development, repetitive integration testing, and costly rework. These tasks consumed resources that could have been dedicated to creating new intellectual property. Additionally, the existing approach made it challenging to scale up efficiently, particularly when handling large systems with intricate, interconnected components. The organization needed a robust MBD framework that could help them shift resources toward application development while ensuring reliability, consistency, and efficiency throughout the development pipeline.
Results
SimuQuest’s solutions delivered a transformative impact, reducing the supplier’s costs by over 80%—from $1.3M to $270K. The project duration was shortened dramatically, with total man-months dropping from 115 to just 16. For one major system, SimuQuest’s support enabled the supplier’s team to complete development in 8 months with only 2 engineers, a stark contrast to previous projects that required 24 months and 7 engineers to complete similar work. This streamlined approach allowed the team to focus on innovation, reduce manual tasks, and increase software reliability, driving significant time and cost savings.
Services Provided
- Model-Based Design Process Implementation
- Model-Based Software Development
- CAN and Bootloader Development
- EEPROM Management Solutions
- Separation of Application and Hardware Layers
Tools and Technologies
- MATLAB
- Simulink
- Stateflow
- UniPhi
- QuantiPhi
- Freescale S12x
- EEPROM Manager
- Vector CANape
- Vector CANalyzer
Client Testimonials
“Divorcing the application (control system algorithms) from the hardware layer allows us to perform much more simulation on the application and make sure that we are performing to requirements. This was possible due to the template setup that we received with SimuQuest’s support.”
“We have completely relied on SimuQuest’s QuantiPhi for the driver/OS layer which has freed us up to focus on the application layer.”
Program Manager