Tools for managing quality process in project management play a vital role throughout the project. So, in this article, we’ll discuss 12 tools for managing quality process in project management.
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What Is the Managing Quality Process in Project Management?
Managing the project quality process is crucial because you should translate the quality management plan into executable quality activities that incorporate the company’s quality policies into the project. In this process, project managers can increase the probability of achieving quality objectives and addressing ineffective processes and causes of poor quality. So, this process should be performed throughout the project life cycle because it will help you increase the chances of the project’s success.
Read more: 12 tools for planning quality process in project management
Tools for Managing Quality Process in Project Management
As discussed earlier, managing the quality process is crucial because it helps project managers follow and meet standards to assure stakeholders that the final product will meet their requirements, needs, and expectations. So, the following are some essential tools for managing quality processes in project management.
Root Cause Analysis
Root cause analysis is a tool that helps project managers determine the primary underlying reason that causes a variance, defect, or risk. Furthermore, this tool can be used for identifying the root causes of a problem and solving them. Moreover, when all root causes for an issue are removed, the problem does not recur.
Document Analysis
Document analysis can be used to manage quality in your project because it helps you analyze different documents produced as part of the output of project control processes. These documents may help you determine stakeholder’s requirements or expectations, such as quality reports, test reports, variance analysis, and performance reports.
Alternative Analysis
Alternative analysis is a tool that will help project managers evaluate identified options to select which different approaches or quality options are most appropriate to us.
Process Analysis
Process analysis is a tool that will help project managers identify appropriate opportunities for process improvements. Furthermore, this analysis examines problems, constraints, and non-value-added activities that occur during a process.
Quality Improvement Methods
Quality improvement methods are another important way to manage quality in your project. However, this can occur based on recommendations and findings from quality control processes. So, the findings of the quality audit or problem-solving in the manage quality process. Quality improvement tools including Six Sigma and plan-do-check-act can be used to analyze and evaluate opportunities for improvements.
Problem-solving
In short, problem-solving entails finding solutions for challenges or issues. It may include gathering additional information, critical thinking, and creative, and logical approaches. Effective problem solving is a primary element in quality management and quality improvement. Typically, a problem or issue may arise due to control quality process or from quality audits and can be associated with a process or deliverable.
Therefore, project managers can use structured problem-solving methods because they will help eliminate the problem and develop a better solution. According to the PMBOK 6th edition, the following are the most common elements of the problem-solving method.
- Defining the problem
- Identifying root-case analysis
- Generating possible solution
- Selecting the best solution
- Implementing the solution
- Verifying solution effectiveness
Histograms
Histograms is a tool that can be used to show a graphical representation of numerical data. Furthermore, this tool can show the number of defects per deliverable, the number of times each process is noncompliant, a ranking of the cause of defects, or other representations of product or project defects.
Checklists
Checklists are a data gathering tool that can be used to verify a set of required steps has been performed or to check if a list of requirements has been satisfied. Furthermore, checklists may be simple or complex based on the project’s requirements and practices. Many organizations have standardized checklists available to ensure commercial service providers or associations. However, quality checklists should incorporate the acceptance criteria included in the scope baseline.
Audit
Audit is a process that can be used to determine if a project activity or task complies with organizational and project policies, and procedures. Typically, a quality audit is conducted by a team external to the project. For example: the organization’s PMO, internal audit department, or by an auditor external to the organization. The following are some objectives of quality audit in project management.
- Identifying all good being implemented
- Identifying all best practices being implemented
- Identifying all shortcomings, and nonconformity gaps
- Improving the implementation of processes to help raise team productivity
Matrix Diagrams
A matrix diagram is a tool that can be used to show the strength of relationships among factors, objectives, and causes that exist between the rows and columns that form the matrix.
Scatter Diagrams
A scatter diagram is a tool that can be used to show the relationship between two variances. Furthermore, this tool can demonstrate a relationship between any element of a process or activity on one axis and a quality defect on the other axis.
Conclusion
Managing quality is the process of project quality management. In this process, project managers can use tools such as root cause analysis, Document analysis, Alternative analysis, Process analysis, Quality improvement methods, Problem-solving, Histograms, Checklists, Audit, Matrix diagrams, and Scatter diagrams to meet the stakeholder’s requirements and expectations.
