Quality assurance

Quality assurance (QA) is the process of auditing the quality requirements and the results from quality control measurements to ensure that appropriate quality standards and operational definitions are used (PMBOK, Perform Quality Assurance). It is a process-oriented, preventive activity done during execution, and it gives confidence that the project will satisfy the relevant quality standards.

Objectives

• Prevent defects by building quality into the process.
• Make sure the agreed processes are followed.
• Give management and customers confidence.
• Continuously improve processes.

Activities / tools

1. Quality audits: structured, independent reviews to check compliance with policies and procedures and to find good practices and gaps.
2. Process analysis: examine problems and constraints, identify root causes and make improvement plans.
3. Quality management and control tools: flowcharts, cause-and-effect diagrams, Pareto charts and similar tools are reused.
4. Reviews and walkthroughs of requirements, design and code.
5. Training and enforcement of standards.
6. Process improvement using PDCA and Six Sigma.

Outputs

Change requests, updates to the project management plan, updates to project documents and updates to organisational process assets (OPA).

Plan -> Perform QA (audits, process analysis)
      -> Improvements -> Better processes

QA versus QC

Benefits

Fewer defects, lower rework cost, customer confidence, and compliance with standards such as ISO 9001 and CMMI.

Example: A QA officer audits several projects to check that requirement reviews and test plans are done as per the company procedure, and suggests improvements.