A Support Process Area at Maturity Level 2

The purpose of Process and Product Quality Assurance (PPQA) is to provide staff and management with objective insight into processes and associated work products.

The Process and Product Quality Assurance process area involves the following activities:

·         Objectively evaluating performed processes, work products, and services against applicable process descriptions, standards, and procedures

·         Identifying and documenting noncompliance issues

·         Providing feedback to project staff and managers on the results of quality assurance activities

·         Ensuring that noncompliance issues are addressed

The Process and Product Quality Assurance process area supports the delivery of high-quality products and services by providing project staff and managers at all levels with appropriate visibility into, and feedback on, processes and associated work products throughout the life of the project.

The acquirer evaluates critical acquirer work products, acquirer processes, results of supplier process quality assurance, and supplier deliverables. For example, process and product quality assurance ensures that the solicitation package was developed using standard processes agreed to by the organization and that it conforms to all applicable policies. The acquirer may review results of supplier quality assurance activities for selected supplier processes to ensure that the supplier is following its own processes.

Typically, selected supplier processes are critical processes, such as engineering or verification processes, where the supplier is required through the supplier agreement to follow project-specified standards. In exceptional cases, the acquirer may directly perform process and product quality assurance for selected supplier processes. The acquirer and supplier periodically share quality assurance issues and findings that are of mutual interest.

The practices in the Process and Product Quality Assurance process area ensure that planned processes are implemented, while the practices in the Acquisition Verification process area ensure that specified requirements are satisfied. These two process areas may on occasion address the same work product but from different perspectives. Projects should take advantage of the overlap in order to minimize duplication of effort while taking care to maintain separate perspectives.

Objectivity in process and product quality assurance evaluations is critical to the success of the project. (See the definition of “objectively evaluate” in the glossary.) Objectivity is achieved by both independence and the use of criteria. A combination of methods providing evaluations against criteria by those not producing the work product is often used. Less formal methods can be used to provide broad day-to-day coverage. More formal methods can be used periodically to assure objectivity.

Traditionally, a quality assurance group that is independent of the project provides objectivity. However, another approach may be appropriate in some organizations to implement the process and product quality assurance role without that kind of independence.

If quality assurance is embedded in the process, several issues must be addressed to ensure objectivity. Everyone performing quality assurance activities should be trained. Those performing quality assurance activities for a work product should be separate from those directly involved in developing or maintaining the work product. An independent reporting channel to the appropriate level of organizational management must be available so that noncompliance issues can be escalated as necessary.

Quality assurance should begin in the early phases of a project to establish plans, processes, standards, and procedures that will add value to the project and satisfy the requirements of the project and organizational policies. Those performing quality assurance participate in establishing plans, processes, standards, and procedures to ensure that they fit project needs and that they will be usable for performing quality assurance evaluations. In addition, processes and associated work products to be evaluated during the project are designated. This designation may be based on sampling or on objective criteria that are consistent with organizational policies, project requirements, and needs.

When noncompliance issues are identified, they are first addressed in the project and resolved there if possible. Noncompliance issues that cannot be resolved in the project are escalated to an appropriate level of management for resolution.

This process area applies primarily to evaluations of project activities and work products, but it also applies to other activities and work products, such as training organizational support groups. For these activities and work products, the term project should be appropriately interpreted.

It also applies to the reviews of supplier process quality results as defined in the supplier agreement. For example, the supplier agreement can require the supplier to provide detailed appraisal results of mandatory, acquirer-scoped CMMI for Development appraisals of supplier processes.

Refer to the Solicitation and Supplier Agreement Development process area for more information about specifying evaluation of selected supplier processes and work products.

Refer to the Agreement Management process area for more information about managing conformance to supplier agreements.

Refer to the Acquisition Verification process area for more information about the verification of acquirer work products.

Refer to the Acquisition Technical Management process area for more information about evaluating the technical solution.

Specific Goal and Practice Summary

SG 1 Objectively Evaluate Processes and Work Products

SP 1.1       Objectively Evaluate Processes

SP 1.2       Objectively Evaluate Work Products and Services

SG 2 Provide Objective Insight

SP 2.1       Communicate and Ensure the Resolution of Noncompliance Issues

SP 2.2       Establish Records