ASPICE, which stands for Automotive Software Process Improvement and Capability dEtermination, is a comprehensive framework designed specifically for the automotive industry. As modern vehicles become increasingly software-driven, with some containing over 100 million lines of code, the need for standardized, reliable software development processes has become critical. ASPICE provides the structure and methodology to assess, improve, and ensure the quality of software development processes in safety-critical automotive systems.
The ASPICE framework is built on three main process categories. Primary Life Cycle Processes cover the core development activities from requirements to implementation. Organizational Life Cycle Processes focus on project management and quality assurance. Supporting Life Cycle Processes provide essential support functions like configuration management and problem resolution. Each process can be assessed at six capability levels, from Level 0 Incomplete to Level 5 Optimizing, providing a clear maturity progression path for organizations.