An RVTM is a structured tool used to document the relationships between system requirements and their corresponding verification methods, outcomes, and references. Typically formatted as a matrix, it maps each requirement to one or more of the following:

• Verification methods (inspection, test, demonstration, analysis)
• Evidence sources (e.g., test reports, inspection records)
• Related system components, documents, or submittals

This matrix ensures that all system requirements—particularly safety-critical and regulatory-driven ones—are accounted for and validated through appropriate means. It also helps organizations mitigate risks during audits or certifications by demonstrating full lifecycle traceability.

Projects governed by standards like ISO 13485, EN 50126, or DO-178C increasingly require detailed verification records. RVTM is often the only accepted mechanism to:

• Prove regulatory compliance
• Enable structured V&V processes
• Avoid late-stage discovery of gaps or nonconformities
• Enable successful system handover or certification

For large infrastructure or transportation programs such as the California High-Speed Rail, an RVTM is essential to coordinate across various contractors, interfaces, and disciplines—ensuring that what was built truly fulfills what was specified.

While the value of an RVTM is undisputed, its implementation is not trivial.

Key challenges include:

• Performance issues: Large-scale traceability matrices (often with thousands of entries) can become unwieldy and impact system performance.

• Tool complexity: Generating usable RVTM reports from tools like IBM DOORS Next requires precise knowledge of the data structure, relationships, and the Rational Publishing Engine (RPE) template language.

• Customization needs: Each project may require a different structure, layout, or regulatory focus for its RVTM, making reuse of generic templates nearly impossible.

At Softacus, we created a comprehensive report based on stakeholder requirements, which were systematically broken down into component and system requirements, and further into verification and validation layers. The report included deep vertical traceability—spanning 6 to 10 levels—as well as horizontal traceability links to verification elements and system architecture.

To support the analysis of approximately 100,000 links, the report output was generated in Excel format via IBM ELM. We utilized the Report Builder Warehouse as the data source to ensure high-speed reporting performance.

With the latest enhancements in Document Builder, this type of report can now potentially be generated not only on demand but also automatically on a scheduled basis (e.g., nightly).

1.) Example of an RVTM report generated from IBM DOORS Next

We understand both the strategic and technical dimensions of traceability and compliance reporting. We’ve supported organizations in implementing RVTMs across engineering domains—especially in environments using IBM Engineering Lifecycle Management (ELM) tools such as DOORS Classic, DOORS Next, and RQM.

Our expertise with IBM Engineering Publishing (RPE) allows us to build and optimize RVTM templates that are:

• Fully aligned with your data model

• Performance-optimized for large datasets

• Configurable to meet multiple stakeholder and regulatory needs

That said, building high-quality RVTM reports remains one of the most demanding RPE use cases. Performance tuning, layout adjustments, and trace consistency checks are often required and should not be underestimated.

If your organization is struggling with RVTM generation—or preparing for a system audit—we’re here to help streamline your reporting processes without sacrificing data integrity or traceability.