Design Verification Test (DVT) is the second formal hardware prototype phase, following EVT. DVT builds use production-representative processes and tooling (injection-molded parts, production PCBs, production firmware), and DVT testing is a comprehensive verification of the product against all requirements in the specification. DVT is where the product's full compliance — electrical, mechanical, environmental, regulatory — must be demonstrated before committing to production tooling and volume procurement.
DVT testing scope includes: functional verification of all requirements, environmental testing (temperature cycling, humidity, vibration, shock), electrical safety testing (hi-pot, leakage current), reliability testing (accelerated life test, burn-in), EMC pre-compliance testing, and regulatory testing if required (FCC, CE, UL). DVT typically runs for 4-12 weeks depending on product complexity and the scope of environmental qualification required.
DVT exit is gated by the resolution of all must-fix issues identified during DVT testing, regulatory test report pass, and updated BOM and drawings at the configuration used in DVT builds. DVT is the last opportunity to make design changes before production — changes after DVT require re-verification of affected test cases and can delay launch significantly. This is why DVT builds use production-representative tooling: discovering a tooling-driven issue in DVT is far less costly than discovering it after production tooling is approved.
Practical Example
DVT for a wearable health monitor: 30 units from production tooling, 8-week test program. Test scope: all 62 functional requirements, 6-cycle temperature cycling (-20°C to +60°C), 1-meter drop onto concrete (6 faces), IP68 immersion (1m, 30 min), FCC/IC pre-compliance, 500-hour accelerated life test. Issues found: 2 must-fix (display delamination at -20°C, battery connector intermittent at shock).
How SpecZero handles this
DVT test plans map directly to SpecZero's requirements: every requirement that needed DVT-level testing should have a corresponding acceptance criterion and a decision log entry recording the test results. This closes the loop between specification and evidence of compliance.
Related terms
Engineering Verification Test(EVT)
The first hardware prototype phase — focused on verifying that the design concept works and meets core requirements.
Production Validation Test(PVT)
The final pre-production phase — validating the manufacturing process can produce compliant product at volume.
Verification and Validation(V&V)
Verification confirms a design meets its specifications; validation confirms the product meets user needs.
Requirements Traceability Matrix(RTM)
A document that links requirements to their sources, design elements, and verification tests.