Method and device for optimizing an amount of testing with respect to a total test time

A method for determining a reduced first amount of testing from a second amount of testing, comprises:

• provisioning a matrix having a plurality of entries characterizing whether a product associated with a respective entry of the plurality of entries has passed or failed the second amount of testing associated with the respective entry;
• optimizing a cost function dependent on test variables, wherein each test of the second amount of testing is associated with one of the test variables, and the test variables characterize whether a corresponding test of the second amount of testing is relevant;
• defining constraints for the cost function by:
• defining a first constraint in that a result of matrix/vector multiplication must be greater than or equal to a vector having only ones, wherein the matrix of matrix/vector multiplication is from a matrix having entries that all have the value one, the plurality of entries of the provisioned matrix are subtracted and the vector of matrix/vector multiplication is a vector comprising the test variables, and
• defining a second constraint in that the test variables are binary;
• and
• outputting an amount of the testing whose test variables are characterized as relevant.