Requirements checklist
What to ask for when choosing software for avionics hardware manufacturers.
A checklist built from how avionics hardware manufacturers work, to print or save as a PDF and bring to any supplier meeting.
What the software should cover
Tick each one that matters to your business.
- Approved sources and goods inward
- Bill of materials and build standard
- Kitting and moisture control
- Board line and inspection records
- Firmware and test record
- Repair and return history
Roles that need their own access
Who logs in, and what each person may see or change.
- For engineering leads
- For purchasing staff
- For line supervisors
- For test technicians
- For quality staff
Reports to ask for
Ask to see each one with your own sample data.
- Date codes and lots used in each unit serial
- Parts on allocation and the builds they affect
- Moisture-sensitive packages past floor life
- Firmware version loaded against build standard
- Burn-in and acceptance failures by fault and part
- Repairs by modification applied
Systems it may need to connect to
Note which ones you already run.
- Test equipment data import
- Firmware repository link
- Barcode and label printers
- Accounting export
Questions for any vendor
Put these to every supplier you are comparing.
- Can I see which date codes are inside a particular unit?
- How does the system handle approved alternates?
- Is a warning given for moisture-sensitive parts?
- Are firmware versions stored?
- How are repairs recorded?
- Can we separate parts on allocation?
- Will it certify us for airworthiness?
- Is test equipment connected?
- What does it cost?
- Can we take the serial histories with us later?
Where the work usually breaks today
Circle the ones you recognise. They set the order of the project.
- Date codes are lost after kitting
- Substitute parts are agreed by phone
- Firmware versions drift from the build standard
- Moisture exposure is not tracked
- Repairs return to the wrong standard
Prefer to talk it through? See the avionics hardware manufacturers page.