Method, apparatus, and product for optimizing manufacturing tests by integrating part and test objects in the same order configuration application

1. A method in a data processing system for optimizing manufacturing testing of a customized configuration of a product, said method comprising:

defining, within an order configuration application, a plurality of part objects, each one of said plurality of part objects associated with one of a plurality of parts;

defining, within said order configuration application, a plurality of test objects, each one of said plurality of test objects associated with one of a plurality of test cases;

generating, using said order configuration application, order information using ones of said plurality of part objects that are associated with ones of said plurality of parts that are selected to be included in a customized product; and

generating test cases, using said order configuration application, using at least one of said plurality of test objects that is associated with said ones of said plurality of part objects.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said test cases are needed to test parts that are included in said customized product.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said test cases are only those of a plurality of test cases that are needed to test said customized product.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

said plurality of parts being all possible parts that could be selected to be included in said customized product.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

each one of said plurality of test objects associated with one of a plurality of test cases.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:

said plurality of tests including all test cases that are necessary to test all of said plurality of parts.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

defining said plurality of part objects and said plurality of test objects within an object oriented software environment; and

said order configuration application executing within said object oriented software environment.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

defining an attribute, in each one of said plurality of part objects, that lists at least one of said plurality of test objects, wherein said attribute is used to associate each one of said plurality of part objects with said at least one of said plurality of test objects; and

wherein said attribute is used to associate each one of said plurality of part objects with said at least one of said plurality of test objects.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

defining an attribute, in ones of said plurality of test objects, that lists at least one other of said plurality of test objects; and

wherein said attribute is used to associate said ones of said plurality of test objects with said at least one other one of said plurality of test objects.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting a particular one of said plurality of parts;

using a particular one of said plurality of part objects that is associated with said particular one of said plurality of parts to identify a particular one of said plurality of test objects; and

said particular one of said plurality of test objects defined for a particular test case, said particular test case necessary to be performed for said particular one of said plurality of parts.

11. A computer program product, which is stored in a computer-readable medium in a data processing system, comprising:

said computer-readable medium having computer usable program code for optimizing manufacturing testing of a customized configuration of a product, said computer program product including:

said computer usable program code for defining, within an order configuration application, a plurality of part objects, each one of said plurality of part objects associated with one of a plurality of parts;

said computer usable program code for defining, within said order configuration application, a plurality of test objects, each one of said plurality of test objects associated with one of a plurality of test cases;

said computer usable program code for generating, using said order configuration application, order information using ones of said plurality of part objects that are associated with ones of said plurality of parts that are selected to be included in a customized product; and

said computer usable program code for generating test cases, using said order configuration application, using at least one of said plurality of test objects that is associated with said ones of said plurality of part objects.

12. The computer program product according to claim 11 , wherein said test cases are only those of a plurality of test cases that are needed to test said customized product.

13. The computer program product according to claim 11 , further comprising:

said plurality of parts being all possible parts that could be selected to be included in said customized product.

14. The computer program product according to claim 11 , further comprising:

each one of said plurality of test objects associated with one of a plurality of test cases.

15. The computer program product according to claim 14 , further comprising:

said plurality of tests including all test cases that are necessary to test all of said plurality of parts.

16. The computer program product according to claim 11 , further comprising:

said computer usable program code for defining said plurality of part objects and said plurality of test objects within an object oriented software environment; and

said order configuration application executing within said object oriented software environment.

17. The computer program product according to claim 11 , further comprising:

said computer usable program code for defining an attribute, in each one of said plurality of part objects, that lists at least one of said plurality of test objects, wherein said attribute is used to associate each one of said plurality of part objects with said at least one of said plurality of test objects; and

wherein said attribute is used to associate each one of said plurality of part objects with said at least one of said plurality of test objects.

18. The computer program product according to claim 11 , further comprising:

said computer usable program code for defining an attribute, in ones of said plurality of test objects, that lists at least one other of said plurality of test objects; and

wherein said attribute is used to associate said ones of said plurality of test objects with said at least one other one of said plurality of test objects.

19. The computer program product according to claim 11 , further comprising:

said computer usable program code for selecting a particular one of said plurality of parts;

using a particular one of said plurality of part objects that is associated with said particular one of said plurality of parts to identify a particular one of said plurality of test objects; and

said particular one of said plurality of test objects defined for a particular test case, said particular test case necessary to be performed for said particular one of said plurality of parts.

20. An apparatus in a data processing system, which includes a central processing unit (CPU)m for optimizing manufacturing testing of a customized configuration of a product, said apparatus comprising:

said data processing system including an order configuration application that includes a plurality of part objects, each one of said plurality of part objects associated with one of a plurality of parts;

said CPU executing code for transforming said order configuration application by defining, within said order configuration application, a plurality of test objects, each one of said plurality of test objects associated with one of a plurality of test cases;

said CPU executing code for generating, using said order configuration application, order information using ones of said plurality of part objects that are associated with ones of said plurality of parts that are selected to be included in a customized product; and

said CPU executing code for generating test cases, using said order configuration application, using at least one of said plurality of test objects that is associated with said ones of said plurality of part objects.