Project Quality Management

Project Quality Management is the PMP Knowledge Area. Purpose of Project Quality Management:

To ensure that project requirements are met properly.

Processes & Outputs

Process	Output
Plan Quality Management [Planning]	Quality Management Plan, Quality Metrics, Quality Checklists
Manage Quality [Executing]	Change Requests
Control Quality [Monitoring and Controlling]	Quality Control Measures, Validated Changes, Verified Deliverables

Process Description

1. Plan Quality Management [Process / Planning]

a. We find standards relevant to the project
b. We develop Quality Management Plan in which we describe how Quality Policy will be implemented and how Manage Quality and Control Quality will be performed.
c. We develop Process Improvement Plan to be used by Manage Quality
d. We develop Quality Checklist to be used by Quality Control
e. We use control charts to decide control limits of the process. For repeatable process, control limit is set at -3 sigma to +3 sigma.
f. We use Design of Experiments (DOE) to find what combination of key variables will help us achieve desired quality.

g. We use statistical sampling to decide size of the sample and the frequency of sample testing.
h. We use benchmarking which means comparing our practices with those of other industries to collect ideas for improvement and to set new benchmark for improvement.
i. We use fish-bone diagram to find causes of potential quality problems.

2. Manage Quality [Process / Executing]

a. We conduct Quality Audit to check whether processes are being followed or not, find gaps and shortcomings like ineffective policies and procedures. Then we recommend corrective action to make the effective.
b. We conduct process analysis to find non-value adding activities and then eliminate them to improve process.
c. The main purpose of the Manage Quality is to develop confidence that the project will meet expectations and requirements.

3. Control Quality [Process / Monitoring and Controlling]

a. We inspect deliverables and verify them. This inspection provides Quality Control Measurements.
b. In case of any defect, we find out causes and defect repairing solution and recommend to Integrated Change Control board for approval. After approval, perform below activities:
i. Give it to execution for implementation

ii. Write approved changes in the Project Management Plan

iii. Write lessons learned in OPAs

iv. Inform concerned stakeholders

g. We validate repaired deliverables and review implementation of approved change request.
h. We use statistical sampling, if the product is large otherwise it will take too much time to test each item. Sometimes, sample testing is used when the test is destructive testing. Example: Safety test of cars.
i. We use control charts to check if the process is in control or not. There are 2 conditions when the process is out of control. Whenever a data point goes outside the control limits or when seven consecutive data points are collected on either side of the mean but within control limits. It is called Rule of Seven. Whenever the process is out of control, stop the process, find assignable cause, correct it and run again.

Exercise: Answer at-least 80% of the questions correctly in order to master the topic.
20 Questions Challenge
50 Questions Challenge