What is Project Quality Management?

While employee engagement is currently at an all-time high, the numbers are still dismal. Only 34% of US workers are actually engaged. Because of this, it's critical to closely monitor the quality of projects in the workplace to ensure that they're on par with company and client standards.

But what exactly is project quality management? What does it entail? Read on to answer these questions so that you can begin implementing this essential business strategy.

Project Quality Management Defined

Project quality management is the process through which people monitor, manage, and maintain quality throughout a project through which, a consistent quality must be maintained.

The main objective of quality management is to make sure that the project meets the needs that it was originally created to meet. 

What Are the Different Phases in Project Quality Management?

There are three major aspects to project quality management. Becoming more aware of these processes can help you to understand how to monitor quality effectively and heighten your output's quality immediately. A group training course can help your employees understand the basics in greater detail, but the basics are fairly straightforward.

1. Quality Management Planning

The first step requires you to identify the quality standards and requirements for the individual project/product you're working on. Your objectives need to be clear and quantifiable.

They also must be shared with all people involved in your project so that they can get a clear picture of what will be taking place. Though all stakeholders should know what everyone is doing, it's essential that you clearly delegate tasks to responsible parties.

2. Quality Assurance

This step requires a superior who audits the quality performance both during the project and after it has been completed. The goal is to ensure that the previously outlined quality standards are used. If these standards are not met or objectives are ignored, corrective actions must be taken.

3. Quality Control

Quality control involves monitoring and recording quality activity results. The objective is to assess performance regularly all throughout the project. This step also necessitates recommending changes that will improve performance.

What Is the Definition of 'Quality' in 'Project Quality Management'?

As we brushed on earlier, the word 'quality' in 'project quality management' does not mean perfection (or getting near it). It means consistency throughout the project.

To define quality, you must first be clear about the meaning of a few key terms:

• Validation, or assurance that the project meets the needs and standards that were agreed upon during its conceptualization
• Verification, or compliance with company/job requirements
• Precision, or repeatable measures in a tight group of actions
• Accuracy, or how close a measure of your project is to the true value you're looking to attain
• Tolerance, or the range of results acceptable to your project

These are the measures that you need to take in order to ensure the quality of your project. Be sure that you outline the tolerance of your project prior to beginning it so that you can measure the results in terms of both objectives and your tolerance window.

What Should a Good Project Quality Management Plan Entail?

Quality management planning is the process that determines objectives and tolerance. This set of requirements (and how close you must be to satisfying them) are your 'quality standards'.

More importantly, a project management plan devises a way to attain the quality standards that you outline for the project. Your plan must consider and document:

• How your team will implement the quality standards that you outline in your policy
• How the quality of the project/product will be assured through the project (with actionable items at each step in the project)
• The resources that employees will require to ensure that quality standards are met (tools, checklists, technology, group/individual training, etc.)
• Any additional activities that are needed to carry out the quality plan

How to Fulfill This Plan

To identify the items listed above, you may need to update your project management plan and schedule. This requires that you understand and accept the evolving nature of these documents so that you aren't blindsided by updates.

The quality plan and standards (like other aspects of the planning phase) are written by the project manager. However, input from all stakeholders is necessary to ensure that all parties are satisfied and on the same page.

When you're planning for a quality project, you also must ensure that corporate quality policies are followed. If these policies do not yet exist, the team that's on the quality project needs to create one.

Your team should also consistently adapt existing policies so they suit the nature of your individual project. To learn how this can take place, it's critical that you train your employees and stakeholders about effective project management and quality assurance. Technology use is also a huge part of quality monitoring, so make sure that everyone on the project understands the tools that they will use to ensure consistent quality.

Get Started

Now that you know what project quality management is, what phases it has, and what its plans should entail, it's time to get started. Sign up for an IT training course to give your employees the knowledge that they need for project quality management.

We'll teach them how to use the technology and tools that they need to boost the quality of your output and promote career and corporate advancements. Since we're committed to helping your enterprise succeed, we look forward to you reaching out.