One of the most important things to understand and appreciate about the field of test automation is test data management. Test automation or TAD can be described simply as the discipline of handling, storing, retrieving and analyzing test data. Test automation is simply a subset of the broader discipline of software testing. The field of test automation is often times confused with the term "QA". Please see the article: Test Data Management in Test Automation for a brief discussion on the difference between the two.
The subject of test data management is extremely involved, and it often times spans many different topics. In order to be an effective test manager or test data manager you must first be very familiar with a variety of different topics, including test design, testing objectives, and test methods. Once you feel comfortable with these three general topics you should have a good understanding of how test data management can best serve your company. I will give a few examples of how test data management is used within various industries.
In the food and beverage industry there are many different requirements for testing various aspects of the products that are made from food. For example all bottles and containers must be tested for lead content, all ice machines must be periodically tested for their efficiency and all food products must be regularly tested for listeria. This is a rather large list that include all areas of the food industry, but there are many other topics that are involved in the testing process.
Another example is the banking industry. Not only do banks need to test customer accounts for safety and security purposes, they need to test the systems that allow the banks to do this. Some banks require test data management systems and software to meet their test requirements. Other examples include ATM's, credit card machines, automated teller machines and much more. In order to be able to use test data management effectively, you must have a comprehensive understanding of these different areas of the test automation process.
A final example is that of the aerospace and defense industry. The requirements for test data management in this industry include everything from the test features of the unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV to the way that the aircraft performs in flight. One can test different components and systems simultaneously using this test automation software. It is crucial that you understand all the aspects of the test data management process when it comes to the aerospace and defense industry.
In conclusion, test data management is an important aspect of manufacturing companies. When you are involved in the test data management process, you must have complete understanding of what it is and what it does. By taking the time to educate yourself on the topic, you will be able to better understand what is needed to get the job done and why you need to have test data automation software in your company. Test data management is no small task. Take the time to properly implement this into your company so that you can fully understand what it entails.