Quality assurance methods in project management

Abstract

Quality assurance is key when dealing with project management. The concept is to ensure that quality specifications will be fulfilled and lives up to expectations of clients and contractors. This is important for a variety of reasons, such as client satisfaction, safety, and environment. Obtaining a quality product which satisfies all stakeholders expectations is tricky, and can for the most part only be evaluated after construction has commenced. This is where quality assurance enters the picture. By implementing procedures thoroughly explaining which inspections should be done when and using which quality control measures, an assurance of sufficiently high quality can be made, which minimizes disputes between stakeholders. In this report, quality assurance is outlined with a short introduction of the three main types of quality assurance, then it is used as a tool for aligning expectations thereby minimizing disputes and raising the overall quality of the project, ensuring quality conformance. The precise specification of when quality is in conformance are not within quality assurance, instead different methods describing quality assurance will be outlined together with main factors influencing quality of projects including; Quality reward systems, ISO-standards, and empowerment of employees. Within these topics, an outline of different quality control methods is given including; cause and effect diagrams, inspection, and project improvement projects (PIP’s). Limitations of quality assurance are analyzed together with advantages, finally a conclusion of main points in the analysis is presented.