3.2.3 Quality Plans
A quality plan can be produced to define:
• working methods and procedures
• standards for deliverables
• standards for supervision and review
• project checkpoints
• user involvement.
The plan is used to improve and assure the quality of the project and will involve the following:
• Setting Objectives. Set out what you want to achieve and the standard of quality that you expect from the product or service that you are trying to produce or the initiative that you are undertaking.
• Assessment. Determine how these objectives will be assessed and how you will confirm that the requirements have been achieved. The objectives should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely (SMART).
• Quality plan. The plan puts in place quality assurance processes to ensure that the desired quality is achieved and tests to provide evidence. Quality planning should demonstrate that the outputs meet the objectives and criteria in a straightforward and neutral way.
• Implementation. This lays down what is to be done, by whom and when.
• Evaluation. Measure the success of what you set out to do. For a project or programme, this tends to relate to achievements, outcomes, what was learned and how this changes things.
Management must give a clear lead on setting standards and in ensuring that they are attained. This is particularly important when incentive schemes, based on output, are employed.
Details and guidance on Quality Plans can be found at the website on the left.
Task 3.2.3 Quality Plans
Produce a quality management plan for an activity or operation on a contract.
