Year 9 pupils from the technology class at Rees Secondary School took part in an automotive workshop in the student laboratory at the zdi-Zentrum Kreis Kleve cleverMINT.
Kleve/Kamp-Lintfort, 19 May 2016: Pupils at Rees Secondary School were given an insight into the world of software development as part of the workshop ‘Embedded Hardware and Software Development in the Automotive Sector’. At the start of the workshop, the pupils received a detailed introduction to the field of software development from the Cologne-based company seneos GmbH. Engineers explained the terminology, methods and development models, whilst also providing an insight into the process cycles of the various models and structures.
In the practical part of the workshop, the pupils developed various functions using an electronic instrument cluster from the automotive sector. During the workshop, the pupils had to identify the customer’s requirements and set them out in writing. Key aspects included precise formulation, testing and communication between the various areas, such as system, hardware and software development, and validation. Development in accordance with the V-model and the documentation of work steps were structured and carried out using a whiteboard and action cards based on the KANBAN method. This method enables production process control to be managed cost-effectively based on the actual consumption of materials at the point of ordering and consumption.
At the end of each development cycle, the work was reviewed and evaluated by ‘the customer’. If the outcome was negative, the development cycle would start again to rectify the defects or implement new ideas.
Through this programme, the zdi Centre for the Kleve District, cleverMINT, aims to spark young people’s interest in careers as embedded software developers, electrical engineers, development engineers, quality engineers, project engineers or systems engineers, and to illustrate everyday working life through practical exercises. Further information and contact details can be found on the website of the zdi Centre for the Kleve District, cleverMINT: www.zdi-KLeve.de.
