The PRINCE2 Product Description – Part 3
The PRINCE2 Product Description Quality methods
The quality methods section of the product description is used to specify the quality activities to be implemented during the development of a product, for review and approval on completion. Where specialized skills are implicit in the quality methods, these should also be specified.
There are two primary types of quality methods: in process methods and appraisal methods which I will discuss later.
Quality responsibilities
To avoid doubt, the quality responsibilities for a product should be specified. The responsibilities will fall into one the three categories:
Producer. The person or group responsible for developing a product
Reviewers. A person or group are independent of the producer who assesses whether or product meets its requirements as defined in its product description
Approvers. The person or group, for example a project board, who is identified as qualified and authorised to approve a product has been completed and fit for purpose.
The quality register
The quality register is effectively a diary of the quality events planned and undertaken (For example, Workshops, reviews, inspections, testing, pilots, acceptance and audits).
It is created during the initiating a project process as the products and quality control measures are being defined. It is then maintained in line with the current baseline plans, throughout the project.
As the project progresses and records of the quality activities are received, the quality register is updated to reflect in summary form, the actual results from the quality activities.
The quality register provides key audit and assurance information, relating what was planned and agreed in the quality management strategy and product descriptions to the quality activities actually performed.
The amount of information Included in the quality register Can vary considerably, depending on the extent to which quality metrics, for example defect accounts, need to be analysed four process improvement purposes.
Quality control
Quality control is achieved by implementing, monitoring and recording the quality methods and responsibilities as defined in the quality management strategy and product descriptions, and Subsequently agreed to in work packages.
Quality control comprises:
- Carrying out the quality methods
- Maintaining quality and approval records
- Gaining acceptance
Quality methods
The cost of correcting flaws in products increases the longer they remain undetected. It is much easier and cheaper to correct a design document early in the project plan to correct a design fault that is only discovered when the finished product is being tested or, worse, when the product is already in operational use.
It follows that quality inspections, implemented early in the design and development process, are potentially the most cost effective quality methods available.
There are two types of quality methods:
In-process methods
These are the means by which quality can be built into the products as they are developed.
These might involve the use of specialist methods and/or techniques, including calibrated process controls, automation by a robotics or software tools, piloting exercises, workshops, surveys and consultation, or more simply, the use of quality inspections during the course of product development as well as upon completion.
Appraisal methods
These are the means by which the finish products are assessed for completeness and fitness for purpose.
There are, in essence, two types of appraisal methods, depending on the extent to which it is possible to define objective quality criteria: testing, if the quality criteria are truly objective and quantifiable, or quality inspection if some subjective judgement is required.
A quality inspection Is a systematic, structured assessment of a product conducted in a plant, documented and organized fashion.
A systematic but flexible approach to quality inspection can be used:
- During the development of products of this type, whether formally for example in line with what was agreed during quality planning, or informally simply as a means of assessing the quality of a work in progress
- To mark the completion and approval of products
- To complement testing for example simply for checking test results
Quality inspection techniques are particularly applicable When professional judgement is required to assess the products fitness for purpose.
The techniques can be used within the project, as quality controls, and by independent experts, as part of quality assurance.
Peer and gateway reviews Are examples of quality assurance activities That can be implemented by using or adapting a generic inspection technique.
Used as a project management team control, conducting systematic quality inspections and also have valuable team building side benefits.
Even when testing is the primary appraisal method, it is often the case that someone has to check that the test results meet the criteria for success and summer simple inspection
There are a variety of systematic inspection techniques, something specific to certain industries or types of product.
PRINCE2 accommodates the use of these techniques, but also provides a useful quality review technique, which complements the use of PRINCE2 Product Descriptions.
The formal approval of a product may or may not result from a quality review. Products that have been signed off as complete after inspection or if you may still have to be submitted to a separate authority for approval.
… to be continued …
