ASPICE Assessment Process Explained: What Really Happens During an Assessment
Originally published at https://www.iqiconsulting.com
ASPICE Assessment Process Explained: What Really Happens During an Assessment
Originally published at https://www.iqiconsulting.com
Many automotive organizations prepare extensively for ASPICE, yet still feel uncertain about what actually happens during an ASPICE assessment. This uncertainty often leads to unnecessary stress, last-minute fixes, and poor assessment outcomes.
As an ASPICE consultant involved in multiple assessments, I have observed that organizations perform significantly better when they clearly understand the ASPICE assessment process and assessor expectations. This article explains the ASPICE assessment process in a practical, experience-based manner.
What Is an ASPICE Assessment?
An ASPICE assessment is a structured evaluation of an organization’s development processes against the Automotive SPICE Process Assessment Model (PAM). The objective is to determine the capability level of selected processes based on objective evidence.
ASPICE assessments are commonly required by:
Automotive OEMs
Tier-1 suppliers
System and software development partners
Phases of an ASPICE Assessment
1. Assessment Planning
This phase includes:
Defining assessment scope
Selecting processes to be assessed
Agreeing on capability levels
Identifying projects and interviewees
Common mistake: Underestimating preparation time.
2. Evidence Collection
Assessors collect:
Process documentation
Project artifacts
Records and templates
Tool outputs
Key focus: Evidence must demonstrate consistent implementation, not just existence.
3. Interviews and Discussions
Interviews are conducted with:
Project managers
Engineers
Quality and process owners
Assessors evaluate:
Process understanding
Real-life application
Alignment between documentation and practice
4. Process Rating
Each process attribute is evaluated using:
Not achieved
Partially achieved
Largely achieved
Fully achieved
Capability levels are assigned based on achievement thresholds.
5. Assessment Findings
The assessment concludes with:
Strengths
Weaknesses
Improvement recommendations
These findings are critical inputs for process improvement planning.
What Assessors Really Look For
Assessors focus on:
Consistency across projects
Traceability of work products
Clear roles and responsibilities
Evidence of management control
Alignment with ASPICE intent
Documentation alone is never sufficient.
Common Reasons Organizations Fail ASPICE Assessments
Over-reliance on templates
Poor understanding of process intent
Lack of project-level evidence
Last-minute preparation
No internal gap assessment
How to Prepare Successfully
Organizations that succeed typically:
Perform an internal gap analysis
Train teams on ASPICE expectations
Establish process ownership
Conduct mock assessments
Address gaps early
Final Thoughts
ASPICE assessments are not audits to fear — they are opportunities to strengthen development capability and build trust with automotive OEMs.
Organizations that approach ASPICE assessments systematically and early achieve better outcomes with less disruption.
For professional ASPICE assessment, training, and consulting services, visit:
👉 https://www.iqiconsulting.com
About the Author
Praveen Pathak is a CMMI Lead Appraiser and ASPICE Consultant supporting automotive organizations globally.
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