South Korean semiconductor manufacturer SK Hynix has received ASPICE (Automotive Software Process Improvement & Capability dEtermination) Level 2 certification for its automotive chips.
ASPICE is described as a guideline for automotive software development introduced by European vehicle manufacturers to evaluate the reliability and capabilities of auto parts suppliers. This is the first time a South Korean microprocessor company has been awarded this recognition and reflects SK Hynix’ progress in the automotive memory business with increased commitment to safety and reliability.
SK Hynix said this certification was essential for automotive NAND products and was expected to lead to increased orders from European automakers and stronger profitability for its NAND products such as universal flash memory and solid state drive with their combined global market expected to grow by over 20% on average every year.
The chip maker said sales of its electronic components were expected to grow strongly in coming years as demand for electric vehicles (EVs), infotainment, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving grows. As systems become more sophisticated, the importance of software quality management as well as compatibility and stability will also grow – requiring suppliers to obtain ASPICE Level 2 certification or equivalent.
To help it win the certification, SK Hynix combined digital technology with Siemens’ certification which it said resulted in the development and optimisation of a stable and efficient system for the overall research and development process, ranging from design of software for vehicles and engineering of products to workflow.
At the end of 2021, SK Hynix obtained ISO 26262: 2018 FSM (Functional Safety Management), an international standard for functional safety in automotive semiconductors set by the International Organisation for Standardisation.
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By GlobalDataSK Hynix said its next target was to achieve ASPICE Level 3 certification which involves a more advanced software development process. The company’s head of solution development, Ahn Hyun, said in a statement: “Our achievement comes at a time when product competitiveness of automotive memory [products] is more important than ever, We will aim higher and continue our efforts for development and stronger product competitiveness of automotive memory chips”.