Optimizing the Requirements Engineering Process for the Luggage Compartment Load Floor

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the luggage compartment load floor, a component that is often overlooked in vehicle development despite its influence on customer experience and product cost. Conducted at Volvo Cars, the study aimed to optimize the requirements engineering process for the load floor by identifying outdated and excessive requirements and developing a structured prioritization framework to reduce unnecessary complexity and cost while maintaining customer value. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining semi-structured interviews, internal and external surveys, benchmarking, production observations, and analysis of internal quality data. The findings indicate that several requirements no longer reflect actual customer needs and have been carried over from previous vehicle programs without sufficient validation. To address this, a structured Requirements Engineering framework was developed to support the development, specification, and management of requirements. The framework was validated through the P113 case study, demonstrating that requirements can be systematically challenged when decisions are supported by empirical data. The results indicate that cost reductions can be achieved by removing outdated requirements without negatively affecting customer satisfaction.