Applied Sciences Group, Inc.

Most Software Development, is Mediocre at Best...

 I have recently completed a series of speaking engagements and webinars on FDA quality regulations as they apply to software development.  My interest in software quality stems from an observation made early in my career, and is still observable today:

• Most software developments are bush-league

I mean that in the kindest way, which is not really so kind.  Software development is still in Wild West mode; after over 40 years, why is that?  Software often reeks of poorly-defined scope, or rushed schedules, or poor documentation, or - and this is obvious to anyone working in an IT environment - "designing on the fly" where the programmer sits behind his terminal and attempts to program while looking at nothing more than 40 or 50 lines of code on the screen.  That's the worst.  It leads to very, very bad assumptions and a patchwork quilt of downstream fixes, few of which are anticipated or budgeted.

Many managers look at software development as black magic, better left to geeky wizards who proudly work long hours - often solo - at their desks until a solution arrives.  Many programmers hold up their arms in the shape of a cross whenever the word documentation is spoken at them.  It's as if writing down what you are attempting to program is anathema to programming itself.  I don't understand why programming is the only form of science and engineering where this is still tolerated.  It speaks to the immaturity of the industry, two full generations after it began.

If I sound frustrated, it's because I am.  It's my personal quest to ensure that ASG delivers software far superior to the typical stuff we see in our business.  Getting that message through to clients and colleagues alike is a never-ending effort and one that ASG takes very seriously.

Two of ASG's principal engineers are currently taking six-sigma training and will be bringing that expertise back to share with our staff.  Others are re-developing ASG's internal quality process as part of our continuous improvement efforts.  Still others are boning up on ISO, FDA, OSHA and other standards that impact risk and safety for end users.

Doing it right is not just vital - it's part of our culture.

ASG is a software development and systems engineering company with enormous applied experience in everything from controls to instrumentation to communication to most types of software. If it's controlled by some kind of computer, we've probably worked with it. Our Web site is full of examples and Case Studies of this. Please peruse our site, and feel free to Contact Us for more information About Us and our capabilities.

You will also find the make up of our Management Team and the names of key members of Our Staff. Feel free to contact any of them with your questions about what Applied Sciences Group can do. I welcome your questions as well.

Paul Buckley
President
Phone: 716-626-5100
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