Quality assurance and quality control—two terms that often trip up even seasoned pros, with lines between them blurry enough to spark debate. But here’s the good news: there is a distinction, and once it clicks, you’ll wonder how you ever mixed them up. Let’s dive in and unravel the difference that can transform how you... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Are you unsure how you will obtain the quality of your project deliverables? Or what standards you need to measure against? Quality is one of the most important aspects of project management, and the production of a Quality Management Plan could be the answer you need. According to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
For engineers like me, quality is a big deal. Industry standard quality control dictates that most documents and designs require a "second stamp" i.e. a reviewer who takes as much responsibility as the designer. If non-engineering professions followed this practice, many project quality issues would be solved. The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) values... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Performing quality assurance ensures that the processes are in place to produce the project deliverables at the applicable level of quality. In the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Quality Assurance is part of the Executing process group and is performed throughout the duration of the project. When quality assurance activities identify a quality problem which... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
According to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, Project Quality includes the processes and activities that determine quality policies, objectives and responsibilities so that the project will satisfy the needs for which it was undertaken. Project quality management is concerned with the development and implementation of a quality management system. The three processes are: Plan... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
It's not hard to find projects which were delivered on time and budget, with stakeholders satisfied in every other respect except for the poor quality of the project's deliverables. Usually, this factor alone causes projects to be considered a failure. Quality isn’t just a buzzword in project management—it’s the difference between a deliverable that dazzles... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
The Plan Quality Management process involves the production of a quality management plan as part of the overall project management plan. This plan determines the quality requirements, how they will be measured, and controlled. It can be a subsection of the project management plan or, for larger projects, a stand alone document. The stakeholder list... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
A single poor quality deliverable can not only create an issue with the customer, but initiate an internal cycle of poor quality culture—rippling through teams, eroding trust, and setting a precedent that’s hard to shake. That’s why project quality control isn’t just a checkbox; it’s a safeguard for reputation and morale alike. Luckily, project management... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Project controls are where the project manager makes their money. It is relatively easy to assign someone work. But how do you ensure the quality of that work? That the deadlines are met? Or that the cost is reasonable? A project manager that can control these things is worth their wage in gold. The triple constraints... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
To external parties, a project is defined by its deliverables. They are not just some relatively important part of the project, they are the project. They are also the measuring stick by which the success of the project, and by extension the competence of the project manager, are measured. For a word so important to... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
Although it isn't in the dictionary, the project management industry uses the term deliverables almost daily. I must say, I am tired of MS Word underlining it as a spelling mistake. Deliverables are the products, services, and results that a project produces. Thus, they are the cornerstone to project success. Every project has to produce something.... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
The difference between a successful project and an unsuccessful one can usually be narrowed down to one word: Planning. The Project Management Institute (PMI) reports that only 64% of projects meet their intended goals, and from my experience working for a large engineering company, this is probably not too far out. But there is a... [Read More]| ProjectEngineer
