Olga Polishchuk

Scrum Master at Luxoft

This book is a practical and insightful guide for applying ASPICE in real-world projects. I found the best practices especially useful for SUP.8, where the example on backup responsibilities helped clarify a key issue in my organization. The book is easy to follow, filled with real-life scenarios, and supported by valuable resources like masterclasses and interview guides. A great companion for any software professional working with ASPICE.

Olena Lizina

Senior Project Manager / ASPICE Provisional Assessor at Luxoft DXC

This book is a real treasure for anyone implementing ASPICE. I only wish I had it sooner! When I was starting out - it would have saved me so much time and uncertainty. Even today, I keep coming back to it whenever I need to refresh my memory or gain clarity. What makes it truly special is that it's written for the people who build and improve processes, not just for assessors.

Wojciech Dziembala

Project Systems Lead / Product Owner / Automotive / SAFe Leadership / Customer Relations / Systems Engineer / Project Management / ASPICE at Aptiv

The Most Practical and Inspiring ASPICE Guide Available

This book is an absolute game-changer for anyone working with Automotive SPICE®. I've read other resources on ASPICE, but none of them manage to combine practical depth, expert authority, and clarity the way this one does. It really exceeded my expectations. What makes it stand out is how the author begins with the Core processes, which are mandatory for Level 2 and in practice the real foundation for starting and structuring any project. Too often these are treated as secondary, but here they are placed exactly where they belong - at the entry point to successful engineering.

I also really like the way processes are grouped and compared across domains. For example, showing SYS.2 alongside SWE.1 and HWE.1, or SYS.3 with SWE.2, HWE.2, and SWE.3, makes the V-model come alive not only for systems but also for software and hardware. This structured comparison helps to understand ASPICE as a coherent engineering model instead of isolated checklists.

On a personal note, if I had read this book earlier, before creating my own ASPICE Basics course, it would have made my work even better. I did use the Melster Academy as a source, but this book goes far beyond. It is a true collection of best practices (not just base practices), guiding the reader on how to build processes that make achieving Level 2 or higher much easier and more natural.

For me, this is the book I wish I had years ago. It combines clarity, structure, and practical insight in a way no other ASPICE resource does. Reading it feels like having an expert assessor sit beside you, guiding you through each step.

Katarzyna Czerwiec

Quality manager / IATF 16949 Auditor Ex-Aptiv

Ronald Melster’s The Ultimate Guide to Automotive SPICE® is a clear, practical, and experience-driven handbook for anyone working with ASPICE. Unlike many texts that focus on compliance, this book emphasizes real process improvement and engineering success. Drawing on decades of industry experience, the author explains not just what ASPICE requires, but why it matters and how to apply it effectively. Each chapter balances concepts with actionable best practices, making it useful for engineers, project managers, and quality professionals alike. What stands out is the author’s pragmatic approach: ASPICE is presented not as bureaucracy, but as a framework that helps teams work faster, with fewer mistakes, and greater predictability. In short, this is an excellent resource for organizations seeking both compliance and genuine improvement in their engineering practices. Highly recommended. 

1. Motivation (Page 25)

• Why am I writing this book?
• Why am I writing it as me?
• The Importance of Training and Process Support
• Why am I writing THIS book?

2. Introduction (Page 31)

• Definition of Process
• Rationale for ASPICE
• The Development of ASPICE
• The Two Dimensions of ASPICE
• ASPICE is not just Compliance
• Core Processes
• The Engineering Processes
• Process Chapter Structure and Content

3. Project Management MAN.3 (Page 49)

• Project Definition
• Project Management Rationale
• Sources of Project Management Expectations
• Core Activities of Project Management
• Challenges and Best Practices in Project Management

4. Quality Assurance SUP.1 (Page 101)

• Definition of Quality
• Quality Assurance Rationale
• Sources of Quality Expectations
• Core Activities of Quality Assurance
• Challenges and Best Practices in Quality Assurance

5. Configuration Management SUP.8 (Page 139)

• Definitions
• Configuration Management Rationale
• Sources of Configuration Management Requirements
• Core Tasks in Configuration Management
• Challenges and Best Practices in Configuration Management

6. Problem Resolution Management SUP.9 (Page 165)

• Definitions
• Rationale for Problem Resolution Management
• Sources of Expectations for Problem Resolution Management
• Core Tasks in Problem Resolution Management
• Challenges and Best Practices in Problem Resolution Management

7. Change Request Management SUP.10 (Page 201)

• Definitions
• Rationale for Change Request Management
• Sources of Expectations for Change Request Management
• Core Tasks in Change Request Management
• Challenges and Best Practices in Change Request Management

8. Requirements Engineering (Page 251)

• Definition of Requirement
• Requirements Engineering Rationale
• Sources of Expectations for Requirements Engineering
• Core Tasks in Requirements Engineering
• Challenges and Best Practices in Requirements Management

9. Architecture and Design in ASPICE (Page 289)

• Definitions
• Architecture Necessity and Benefits
• Sources of Expectations for Architecture Processes
• Core Tasks
• Differences between Architectures
• Challenges and Best Practices in Architecture and Detailed Design

10. Implementation Strategies (Page 337)

• Definitions
• Implementation Rationale
• Sources of Expectations for Implementation
• Core Tasks
• Challenges and Best Practices in Implementation

11. Integration Strategies (Page 357)

• Definitions
• Integration Rationale
• Sources of Expectations for Integration Processes
• Integration Verification across Software and System
• Core Tasks
• Challenges and Best Practices in Integration

12. Verification (Page 417)

• Definitions
• Verification Rationale
• Sources of Expectations for Verification Processes
• Core Tasks
• Challenges and Best Practices in Verification

13. Conclusion (Page 457)

• Key Takeaways from this Book
• Next Steps - How to Apply ASPICE in Practice
• Assessment Preparation Tools
• Personal Consultation

14. About the Author (Page 463)

A. List of Best Practices (Page 467)

B. Important ASPICE Concepts (Page 473)