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A project isn't considered successful just because it was completed on time and on budget. There is one more aspect of success that cannot be overlooked: quality.
Stakeholders will be unhappy no matter how quickly or cheaply a project is done if the quality of the product or service does not exceed their expectations. So, how can a project manager keep track of the project's quality and ensure that it meets the needs of stakeholders? That's how: quality assurance.
What Is Quality Assurance?
Quality assurance is a method of avoiding errors in the project's product or service, hence avoiding problems for your stakeholders. It's the component of quality management that focuses on keeping the product or service's integrity, giving stakeholders the assurance that their quality expectations will be satisfied. As a result, it is a fundamental pillar of project management.
The Difference Between Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Although both phrases are sometimes used interchangeably to describe the quality management of the project's product or service, the distinction between quality assurance and quality control is minor but crucial.
The distinction lies in the location of the project's focus. Early in the project phase, quality control is more concerned with quality. Assurance, on the other hand, is concerned with the implementation of inspection and systematic testing at all stages of the project.
Quality assurance makes use of a quality system that is set up to carry out administrative and procedural duties that result in project goals for the product or service. This allows for systematic measurement and comparison to a standard, as well as process monitoring and a feedback loop to ensure that no errors are introduced into the manufacturing process. Quality control, on the other hand, is primarily concerned with the output of the process.
Quality Assurance Approaches
- Failure Testing: Failure testing, also known as stress testing, is a method of pushing a product to its limits by increasing vibration, temperature, humidity, and other factors to reveal inherent flaws, and then using those findings to enhance the product to meet a higher standard.
- Statistical Control: This sort of quality assurance relies on objective and subjective data analytics to track quality data and compare it to a common cause variance.
- Total Quality Management: The product's quality is determined by the constituents involved, some of which are sustainable and controlled and others which are not. The quality is not guaranteed if the specification does not meet genuine quality standards.
- Models and Standards: This is an international standard that establishes general competency standards. In an approved laboratory, there are tests to be completed, as well as 15 management requirements and 10 technical criteria.
- Company Quality: This concept, which dates back to the 1980s, focuses on all departments approaching quality in order to build a quality improvement process led by management. Controls, job management, procedure, performance, knowledge, skills, and experience, integrity, confidence, and infrastructure are used to accomplish this.
Want to learn more about the same? Take on the PMP or CAPM Certification today!