SK Hynix Obtains Level 3 Certification for SW Test Model 'TMMi'

Achieved TMMi Level 3 to Reduce System Defect Detection Rate and Failure Loss Costs
"Aiming to Secure TMMi Levels 4 and 5 as Well"

Kwon Won-il, CEO of STA Testing Consulting (left), and Lee Chang-su, in charge of DT Development and Operations at SK Hynix, are taking a commemorative photo after the certificate handover ceremony. / Source=SK Hynix

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Pyeonghwa] SK Hynix became the first company in the domestic semiconductor industry to receive final approval for the international certification of the Test Maturity Model integration (TMMi) Level 3, an internationally recognized competency evaluation model in the software (SW) testing field, on the 7th, and held a certificate presentation ceremony.

TMMi is a model developed to assess the maturity of SW testing organizations and improve processes. It belongs to the internationally recognized official audit models in the SW testing field.

Through this certification acquisition, SK Hynix expects to improve the system defect detection rate by 20%, thereby reducing opportunity loss costs due to system failures by 7.4 billion KRW annually. They also explained that work efficiency will improve by 15%, enabling an additional annual cost saving of 300 million KRW. It is also evaluated as an opportunity to prove the IT quality assurance (QA) capabilities of SK Hynix members and to enhance global technical capabilities related to SW testing.

Meeting Level 3 Maturity... "An Opportunity for the Testing Culture to Mature"

Along with the certificate presentation ceremony, SK Hynix held a TMMi audit result briefing at the Technical Support Center of the Icheon campus. The event was attended by Lee Changsoo, head of DT Development and Operations at SK Hynix, and employees from the System Operations Team. The STA Testing Consulting audit team, responsible for domestic TMMi audits as a SW testing consulting company, was also present.

According to Choi Youngjae, senior member of STA Testing Consulting, SK Hynix completed the audit over ten days starting from the 9th of last month. The audit scope covered the entire testing process. The TMMi assessment indicator TAM was used for the evaluation. TAM defines the practices that must be fulfilled to achieve goals at each stage. Scores are calculated based on the presence of practices, with lower stages being subordinate to higher stages. SK Hynix received a Fully Achieved (FA) rating in five items at Levels 2 and 3. This means that more than 86% of all practices defined by TAM were reflected in the testing process.

After the report, general evaluations were given by Kwon Wonil, CEO of STA Testing Consulting, and Lee. CEO Kwon commented, “It is meaningful as the first Level 3 certification acquisition in the domestic semiconductor industry.” Lee said, “This certification signifies an upgraded culture that continuously improves the Test Process and contemplates what Test activities can benefit our organization and company.”

Lee Chansu, in charge of DT Development and Operations at SK Hynix (left), is giving a general evaluation after listening to the TMMi audit results report. / Source=SK Hynix

Enhancing Expertise and Reducing Costs with the TEST Specialized Model TMMi

SK Hynix stated that this certification originated from a consensus that “IT quality cannot be improved by development process improvements alone.” In reality, testing occupies a significant portion in IT development and operations. The same applies to semiconductor processes. It is important to test IT systems and reduce defects before actual process application. Accordingly, SK Hynix’s DT Development and Operations System Operations Team focused on TMMi while striving to increase testing maturity and prevent defects, achieving this result.

Not only SK Hynix but also leading global companies use the TMMi framework to build testing processes. As of December 2021, over 130 companies worldwide have received official certification. Among them, about 85 companies have obtained Level 3 certification, and only five companies are in Korea. SK Hynix has become the first company in the semiconductor industry this year to acquire Level 3 certification.

Having completed the TMMi Level 3 certification acquisition, SK Hynix plans to promote the internalization of the testing process as a follow-up step. They will strive to enable members to concretize the TMMi Level 3 testing process and continuously develop and utilize measurement indicators that can quantitatively analyze effectiveness.

SK Hynix stated, "We will secure QA specialized technical capabilities and elemental technologies to expand to TMMi Levels 4 and 5 and other areas."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.