Polarion ALM is a browser-based application lifecycle management (ALM) solution from Siemens, focused on providing an end-to-end management platform for complex software development, particularly suited for highly regulated industries such as automotive (e.g., compliant with ISO 26262, ASPICE), aerospace, and medical devices. Its key features and functionalities include:
Core Capabilities and Technical Features
End-to-End Lifecycle Management:
Covers the entire process, including requirements management, software design and development, test management, defect tracking, change and configuration management, build and release management, and project management.
A unified platform integrates data across all stages, eliminating information silos and ensuring seamless integration of processes and data.
Fine-grained traceability:
Establishes bidirectional traceability chains between assets such as requirements, designs, code, test cases, and defects.
Supports automated change control and audit trails to meet compliance requirements (e.g., ISO 26262, ASPICE).
Real-time collaboration and security control:
Provides a browser-based real-time collaboration environment (e.g., unique LiveDoc online structured documentation).
Supports granular permission control and configurable workflow automation to ensure data security and process compliance.
Advanced reuse and branch management:
Supports efficient reuse of assets such as requirements, code, and test cases across projects or product lines.
Powerful branch management capabilities support parallel development and configuration management.
Supports agile and waterfall development:
Provides out-of-the-box process templates that can be flexibly adapted to agile, waterfall, or hybrid development models.
Deployment options
On-premises deployment (Polarion ALM): Installed on the customer’s private server, with security maintained by the customer.
Cloud deployment (Polarion SaaS/X): Siemens provides managed services to reduce upfront costs and operational burdens.
Key Modules and Integrations
Requirements Management (Polarion REQUIREMENTS): Efficiently collect, write, review, validate, and manage requirements, supporting import, synchronization, and reuse.
Test Management (Polarion QA): Design, execute, and track test activities on a unified platform, manage test case libraries and defects, and ensure full coverage and closed-loop management.
Software/Project Management: Link teams and projects, and integrate requirements, coding, testing, and release processes.
Scalability and Integration:
PLM-ALM Integration: Deeply integrated with PLM systems such as Siemens Teamcenter to achieve interconnection of hardware, software, and process data (five levels of maturity: link tracking, change propagation, process integration, alignment and unification, and collaborative reporting).
Tool Integration: Supports integration with design, modeling, and CI/CD tools such as EA, Simulink, and Jenkins.
Rich Extension Library: Provides over 200 extensions for enhanced functionality, industry-specific template customization, and integration with external systems.
Value Proposition
Polarion ALM aims to optimize software development processes, enhance cross-disciplinary collaboration, improve development efficiency and product quality, and provide robust support for addressing industry regulatory challenges through a unified digital platform. Its intuitive user experience and robust traceability are its core strengths.
