---
title: "Quality control process"
subject: "ICT Project Management"
chapter: 10
key: "semester_7/ict_project_management:quality-control-process"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/quality-control-process
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Quality control process

ICT Project Management · Chapter 10: Project quality management

- Asked in: year not given
- Video: [Project Quality Management Overview | PMBOK Video Course](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7YJ-_OJIZQ) — David McLachlan
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/ict_project_management/quality-control-process
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/ict_project_management/chapter-10

## Question

Explain the quality control process.

## Short answer

Monitoring and recording results of quality activities to assess performance and recommend changes. It compares deliverables against standards, identifies defects, recommends corrective action, reworks and retests until accepted. Tools include seven basic quality tools, sampling, and inspection.

## Answer

**Quality control (Control Quality)** is the process of monitoring and recording the results of executing quality activities to assess performance and recommend necessary changes. It determines whether project results meet the quality standards and identifies ways to eliminate the causes of unsatisfactory performance. It is performed throughout the project.

#### Process
```text
Deliverables -> Inspect / Test -> Compare with standard
       -> Within limits? -- Yes -> Accept (validated deliverables)
                         -- No  -> Find cause -> Corrective action
                                    -> Rework -> Re-inspect
```

1. **Collect data**: take measurements of deliverables and processes.
2. **Inspect and test** against the quality metrics and requirements.
3. **Analyse results** using statistical tools.
4. **Identify defects and their causes**.
5. **Recommend corrective action**, defect repair or preventive action.
6. **Rework and retest** until accepted.
7. **Record results** and update documents.

#### Tools and techniques
- Seven basic quality tools: cause-and-effect (fishbone) diagram, flowchart, check sheet, histogram, Pareto chart, control chart, scatter diagram.
- Statistical sampling.
- Inspection (reviews, walkthroughs, audits).
- Approved change request review.

#### Outputs
Quality control measurements, validated changes, validated deliverables, work performance information, change requests and updates.

#### In IT projects
Code reviews, unit/integration/system/acceptance testing, defect tracking and regression tests.

#### QC concepts
- Prevention versus inspection: keeping errors out of the process is better than finding them later.
- Attribute sampling (pass/fail) versus variable sampling (measured on a continuous scale).
- Tolerances and control limits.
- Special causes versus random (common) causes.

| Output | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Validated deliverables | Meet quality |
| Change requests | Fixes needed |
| QC measurements | Test results recorded |

**Example:** After each sprint, testers run test cases on a new module; a defect log is prepared and the defects are fixed before the demo.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What is the purpose of Control Quality?
   A. Define the quality policy
   B. Monitor and record results to assess performance and recommend changes
   C. Audit the organisation's processes
   D. Estimate project costs
   Answer: B. QC checks whether results meet standards and recommends changes. (Key point: Purpose)

2. In the QC process, what happens if a deliverable is not within limits?
   A. Accept it with a note
   B. Skip it and continue
   C. Find the cause, take corrective action, rework and re-inspect
   D. Delete the standard
   Answer: C. Failed items go through cause analysis, corrective action, rework and re-inspection. (Key point: Out-of-limits)

3. Which are outputs of Control Quality?
   A. Validated deliverables, QC measurements and change requests
   B. Quality management plan and checklists
   C. Audit findings only
   D. Stakeholder register
   Answer: A. Outputs include measurements, validated deliverables and changes; the plan is a planning output. (Key point: Outputs)

## Related in ICT Project Management

- [Testing IT systems in quality control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Atesting-it-systems) — ICT Project Management, chapter 10
- [Test life cycle in quality control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Atest-life-cycle) — ICT Project Management, chapter 10
- [Integrated change control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fict_project_management%3Aintegrated-change-control) — ICT Project Management, chapter 7

## Related in other subjects

- [Quality control of concrete at site](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Aquality-control-at-site) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 5, asked 11×
- [Asphalt concrete construction and quality control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Aasphalt-concrete-construction) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 3, asked 5×
- [Control cycle; quality control factors](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Acontrol-cycle-quality-control-factors) — Project Engineering, chapter 4, asked 2×
- [Short note: Project quality control](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aquality-control-techniques-note) — Project Engineering, chapter 4, asked 2×