Quality Control and Assurance
Ensuring that projects meet quality standards and deliverables are of the highest quality.
Aspiring project managers have a lot to learn, and one key area is quality control and assurance. In this blog, we’ll explore what it takes to ensure that projects meet quality standards and that deliverables are of the highest quality.
Series
This blog is from a series of the 12 things you MUST master, to be the BEST, Project Manager, I just wish someone wrote them out for me at the start of my career.
What is Quality Control, and what is Quality Assurance?
First, let’s define what we mean by quality control and assurance. Quality control is the process of ensuring that a product or service meets a certain level of quality. Quality assurance is the process of ensuring that the processes used to create the product or service are the best possible to achieve the desired quality.
Setting clear expectations
One of the most important things you can do as a project manager is to set clear quality standards from the beginning. This means defining what quality means for your project and communicating that to your team. Quality can mean different things for different projects, so it’s important to be specific. For example, quality might mean that a software project meets a certain level of functionality, or that a construction project meets certain safety standards.
Accountability & Control
Once you’ve set your quality standards, the next step is to ensure that everyone on your team is committed to meeting those standards. This means establishing clear processes for quality control and assurance, and communicating those processes to your team. You might also consider using tools like checklists, inspections, and testing to ensure that your team is meeting your quality standards.
Risk
Another important aspect of quality control and assurance is risk management. You need to be aware of potential risks that could impact the quality of your project, and take steps to mitigate those risks. For example, if you’re managing a construction project, you might identify weather risks that could impact the quality of your work, and take steps to mitigate those risks by building weatherproof structures or using specialized materials.
Monitoring and Performance Management
Finally, it’s important to have a system in place for monitoring and evaluating the quality of your project. This might involve conducting regular quality reviews, collecting feedback from stakeholders, and tracking metrics that are relevant to your project’s quality standards.
Best in Class thought leaders
To learn more about quality control and assurance, there are many great resources available. Here are a few books that we recommend:
- “Quality Control Handbook” by Joseph M. Juran and A. Blanton Godfrey
- “Quality Management for Organizational Excellence” by David L. Goetsch and Stanley Davis
- “Total Quality Management” by Dale H. Besterfield, et al.
- “The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook: A Quick Reference Guide to Nearly 100 Tools for Improving Quality and Speed” by Michael George, John Maxey, David Rowlands, and Malcolm Upton
- “Project Quality Management: Why, What and How” by Kenneth H. Rose
These books provide a comprehensive overview of quality control and assurance, as well as practical advice for implementing quality processes in your organization.
Thought Leaders
here are some thinkers and examples of what separates great from good in the realm of quality control and assurance:
W. Edwards Deming
Deming was a renowned statistician and management consultant who is widely credited with helping Japan rebuild its economy after World War II. He is perhaps best known for his 14 Points for Management, which include a focus on improving quality, reducing waste, and continuous improvement.
Joseph Juran
Juran was another management consultant who played a key role in the post-war reconstruction of Japan. He is perhaps best known for his Quality Trilogy, which emphasizes the importance of quality planning, quality control, and quality improvement.
Philip Crosby
Crosby was a quality management guru who is perhaps best known for his concept of “zero defects”. He argued that the only acceptable level of quality is perfect quality, and that organizations should strive to achieve this through a focus on prevention rather than correction.
Great vs Just …Good
When it comes to what separates great from good in quality control and assurance, some key factors include:
Attention to detail
Great project managers in this space have a keen eye for detail and are able to identify even the smallest of issues that could impact quality.
Proactive problem solving
Rather than simply reacting to quality issues as they arise, great project managers in this space take a proactive approach to problem-solving, anticipating issues before they become major problems.
A focus on continuous improvement
Finally, great project managers in this space are always looking for ways to improve processes and procedures in order to ensure that quality standards are met and exceeded. This means constantly seeking out new technologies, methodologies, and best practices to stay ahead of the curve.
