DVT (design validation test)
also: DVT · design verification test
The build stage where units made with production-intent tooling and processes are tested exhaustively for reliability, compliance and environmental performance.
DVT units should look and work like the final product, built with production-intent tooling and materials. They go through the full test program: temperature and humidity, drop and vibration, ingress protection, life cycling, and formal certification testing (EMC, radio, safety). The design should be essentially frozen after DVT; later changes need re-validation.
DVT is where many schedules slip, because formal compliance and reliability tests expose problems that require tooling or board changes.
Founder takeaway
Book certification lab time and reliability testing for DVT units in advance, and declare design freeze only when DVT exit criteria are met.
engineer review pending