In tabular form, this checklist defines by each clause and sub-clause of ISO/IEC standard 15288, what is required in the way of physical artifacts that demonstrates the standard has been followed. The types of artifacts listed in the checklist are procedures, plans, records, documents, audits and reviews.

When building a large complex system with many sub-systems such as an airplane, oil tanker, or setting up a new type of medical delivery system, it is a daunting task with high risk. Until 1995 there was no recognized ‘Best of Practice” standard that the world could agree on for building a large complex system. Then ISO developed the first standard (Best of practice) for System Engineering of large complex systems, which was ISO/IEC 15288. It initially defined about 600 artifacts to be produced in the development of a large system.

By 2015, the world was able to collect more and more “lessons learned” from many large projects that failed, or had massive cost, or schedule overruns. With this new data 15288 grew in size, to over 1050 artifacts.  If an organization does not have a clear picture of what artifacts are required in the life cycle of such a system it is easy to miss an important process step. This is why a checklist like the SEPT checklist for 15288 is so important.

In total, there are over 1050 artifacts included in the SEPT 15288 checklist of which over 700 are “Required”.

ISO/IEC 12207:2017 "System and Software Engineering - Software Life Cycle Processes" is often confusing and laborious. This is because directions contained in the standard can seem unclear or ambiguous therefore the experts at SEPT have produced a checklist. This checklist was prepared by analyzing each clause in ISO/IEC 12207 for key words that signify a required policy, procedure, plan, record, document, audit, or review. The resulting checklist then provides an easy-to-use categorized list of physical evidence against which you can audit your work products to help insure conformance with ISO/IEC 12207. 

To better understand this model a user of this product should understand SEPT definition of an auditor. An auditor can be your boss, an inside auditor or an outside auditor such as the FDA, DoD or a prime contractor for your product. The checklist will give the auditor and you a common reference point in the standard (Clause number) that becomes the index point for physical evidence. If a standard calls out physical evidence more than once, such as a "training plan" it is always index to the first clause that reference the training plan This method will allow you to organize your physical evidence in a systematic manner for presentation to the auditor. This simple checklist allows you to bring the document down to simple terms that a professional lay person can understand (policy, procedure, plans, records, documents, audits and reviews). 

The checklist will allow the organization to divide the compliance activity into manageable work packages such as procedures, plans, documents etc. 

The process of defining what is necessary for compliance with a process standard such as ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010:2011 is often confusing and laborious because the directions contained in the standards are unclear or ambiguous. To aid in determining what is actually required by the document in the way of physical evidence of compliance, the experts at SEPT have produced this checklist. This checklist is constructed around a classification scheme of physical evidence comprised of policies, procedures, plans, records, documents, audits, and reviews. There must be an accompanying record of some type when an audit or review has been accomplished. This record would define the findings of the review or audit and any corrective action to be taken. For the sake of brevity this checklist does not call out a separate record for each review or audit. All procedures should be reviewed but the checklist does not call out a review for each procedure, unless the standard calls out the procedure review.

In this checklist, manuals, reports, scripts and specifications are included in the document category. When the subject standard references another standard for physical evidence, the checklist does not call out the full requirements of the referenced standard, only the expected physical evidence that should be available. 

The checklist clarifies what is required for compliance through a product evidence list that will assist any organization in meeting the requirements of this standard. Use of the checklist will save time and money, and may aid in meeting certain governmental requirements. This is an aid that will pay dividends. A quality product at a reasonable price!