Siemens process assessment and improvement approaches: experiences and benefits

The paper reports on Siemens´ extensive experience with process assessments and improvements in a wide variety products and systems, be they software, hardware, or some combination thereof. The Siemens Process Assessments are based on the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) and the BOOTSTRAP approach together with Siemens-specific refinements and extensions, especially for the engineering disciplines. They are significantly more detailed as well as being move focused than other assessment approaches on the business needs of the assessed organization. The authors summarize the lessons learned. In particular they focus on how improvement projects are identified and initiated on the basis of Siemens Process Assessments, and how improvement projects are established as projects within the operating divisions. They describe the challenges that arise and how they can be met