Monitor the performance of the selected subprocesses to determine their capability to satisfy their quality and process-performance objectives, and identify corrective action as necessary.

The intent of this specific practice is to do the following:

·   Determine statistically the process behavior expected from the subprocess

·   Appraise the probability that the process will meet its quality and process-performance objectives

·   Identify the corrective action to be taken, based on a statistical analysis of the process-performance data

Corrective action may include renegotiating the affected project objectives, identifying and implementing alternative subprocesses, or identifying and measuring lower level subprocesses to achieve greater detail in the performance data. Any or all of these actions are intended to help the project use a more capable process. (See the definition of “capable process” in the glossary.)

A prerequisite for comparing the capability of a selected subprocess against its quality and process-performance objectives is that the performance of the subprocess is stable and predictable with respect to its measured attributes.

Process capability is analyzed for those subprocesses and those measured attributes for which (derived) objectives have been established. Not all subprocesses or measured attributes that are statistically managed are analyzed regarding process capability.

The historical data may be inadequate for initially determining whether the subprocess is capable. It also is possible that the estimated natural bounds for subprocess performance may shift away from the quality and process-performance objectives. In either case, statistical control implies monitoring capability as well as stability.

Typical Work Products

1.    Natural bounds of process performance for each selected subprocess compared to its established (derived) objectives

2.    For each subprocess, its process capability

3.    For each subprocess, the actions needed to address deficiencies in its process capability

Subpractices

1.    Compare the quality and process-performance objectives to the natural bounds of the measured attribute.

This comparison provides an appraisal of the process capability for each measured attribute of a subprocess. These comparisons can be displayed graphically, in ways that relate the estimated natural bounds to the objectives or as process capability indices, which summarize the relationship of the objectives to the natural bounds.

2.    Monitor changes in quality and process-performance objectives and selected subprocess’ process capability.

3.    Identify and document subprocess capability deficiencies.

4.    Determine and document actions needed to address subprocess capability deficiencies.

Refer to the Project Monitoring and Control process area for more information about taking corrective action.