Efficient test data management at DAF Trucks: a success story for the future
How DAF Trucks implemented a modern test data management system with the support of Peak Solution, thereby increasing efficiency and transparency in engine development
Challenge: complexity in engine development
DAF Trucks N.V., a leading manufacturer of medium and heavy-duty trucks, faces the daily challenge of carrying out extensive test series for engine development. These test series are crucial for the quality assurance of the engines and require precise and structured recording and analysis of the measurement data. With various test automation and test bench systems that generate a large amount of data in different formats, DAF Trucks needed a standardized system to store this data centrally and make it accessible.
Test series at DAF Trucks N.V. are planned and commissioned via the ‘TRACKS’ project management system, while the current engine configurations are documented in the ‘Engine Management Logbook’. In addition, various software tools are used to analyze measurement data. DAF Trucks therefore decided to introduce a new test data management system that integrates the various applications and tools into a consistent tool chain and enables uniform management of all test data across system boundaries.
The solution: a modern, standardized data management system
After a comprehensive evaluation, DAF Trucks decided to implement a new system based on the open standard ASAM ODS and the openMDM® framework, supported by Peak Solution's ODS server. A decisive factor for this choice was the independence of the solution from specific tool providers, which enabled DAF Trucks to quickly and cost-effectively configure and manage a customized, cross-system solution for test data management in engine development.
The system is based on a generic data model that could be flexibly adapted to the specific requirements of DAF Trucks' engine development. For example, a metadata model was configured that enables precise documentation of the test context. This metadata model ensures that all measurement data is systematically stored and can be correctly interpreted and compared even years later.
Advantages of the new solution
By implementing the system, DAF Trucks was able to realize a reliable and easily expandable test data management system that ensures the long-term usability and comparability of test data. The system offers a standardized interface that enables a high degree of data accessibility across test bench, department and site boundaries.
Another advantage is the support of the ATFX file exchange format, which facilitates the standardized exchange of test data between different applications and even across company boundaries. The introduction of the new system has significantly increased the efficiency of test data management and enables DAF Trucks engineers to manage test data centrally and consistently.
Collaboration with Peak Solution
The decision to work with Peak Solution was significantly influenced by Peak Solution's powerful product components, which were specifically developed for the efficient implementation of ODS-based test data management solutions. These components, combined with Peak Solution's extensive experience in ASAM ODS, made it possible to deliver a flexible and future-proof solution. Peak Solution not only provided the necessary expertise in implementing the ASAM ODS standard, but also the ability to customize the system to DAF Trucks' specific needs, while seamlessly integrating existing systems and data.
Robert Geerts, Project Manager at DAF Trucks, emphasizes: “Working with Peak Solution has enabled us to implement a test data management system that has exceeded our expectations in every respect. The flexibility and efficiency of the system have significantly improved our workflows.”
Further expansion and future developments
With the successful implementation of the new test data management system, DAF Trucks plans to expand the system further. The scalable architecture makes it possible to adapt the system to future requirements and integrate additional departments and locations. Special focus will be placed on the integration of new analysis tools and the expansion of data availability in order to meet the increasing demands on data analysis and utilization.
The success story of DAF Trucks shows how a well thought-out test data management system, supported by an experienced partner like Peak Solution, can make a decisive contribution to increasing efficiency and quality assurance in engine development. Companies facing similar challenges can benefit from Peak Solution's expertise and solutions to take their testing processes to the next level.
