Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) — Manual Testing
Background
WMATA’s operations depend on a wide range of enterprise applications supporting safety, security, workforce management, and reporting. These included the Safety Management System (SMS), Hazard Management Module, ProWatch access control, Metroview, Radio Run Tracking, Safety Dashboard, Cognos/SSRS reporting, SharePoint upgrades, and PeopleSoft HCM. Each system played a critical role in daily operations, requiring rigorous manual testing to ensure compliance, reliability, and operational readiness.
Challenge
The diversity of WMATA’s systems created complex testing requirements. Safety and hazard modules required validation of workflows, incident reporting, and compliance with safety standards. Security systems such as ProWatch and OneBadge demanded role-based and device-based validation to protect sensitive data. SharePoint upgrades and integrations with reporting tools required regression testing to ensure continuity. PeopleSoft HCM upgrades involved validating sensitive HR and risk management data across multiple modules. Disaster recovery and failover testing added further complexity, requiring validation of continuity under active-active models. The challenge was to execute thorough manual testing across diverse platforms while maintaining ISO-compliant documentation, traceability, and stakeholder alignment.
Solution
Our team implemented a structured manual testing strategy across WMATA’s enterprise applications. Functional, integration, regression, and UAT testing were executed for SMS, Hazard, and safety-related modules to ensure accurate workflows and reporting. Security systems were validated for card reader accuracy, access control, and sensitive data protection. SharePoint upgrades and patching were tested for compatibility with EMIH, SOS/SORTs, and reporting integrations.
Manual testing extended to mobile applications, safety dashboards, and Cognos/SSRS reports, ensuring accuracy and usability across platforms. Disaster recovery and failover testing were conducted for critical systems, validating continuity of operations. Infrastructure upgrades—including database migrations and server upgrades—were supported through full-cycle validation. ISO-compliant documentation was produced for each phase, including test plans, RTM, SIT/UAT reports, and training materials. Our team also trained QA staff and end-user trainers to ensure sustainable adoption and knowledge transfer.
Results
The manual testing initiative delivered measurable improvements:
- Validated 15+ enterprise applications across safety, security, reporting, and workforce management systems
- Ensured operational readiness during infrastructure upgrades, failover testing, and SharePoint migrations
- Delivered ISO-compliant documentation including RTM, SIT/UAT reports, and test completion artifacts
- Verified role-based security, GIS map accuracy, and mobile workflows across multiple platforms
- Strengthened compliance and reliability for daily operations across WMATA’s safety and enterprise systems