At the Chicago Firmware Factory, we believe firmware development should be:

• Schedules and deadlines are met.  Billing is timely with no surprises.
• Firmware is revision-controlled, backup and restore are tested regularly, security and disaster recovery plans are in-place and updated regularly.
• Communication is timely, and customers can always view status via a regularly-updated dashboard.
• Code reviews, strict coding standards, and cross-training ensure every employee develops similar code.