Define Quality Concepts. Explain the Shewhart Cycle and Project quality management that are used to improve management processes.
Quality Concepts refer to a set of principles and tools that organizations use to ensure that their products or services meet or exceed customer expectations. These concepts help in ensuring that quality is built into all processes and activities of an organization.
The Shewhart Cycle, also known as the PDCA cycle, is a continuous improvement model developed by Walter Shewhart in the 1930s. It consists of four stages: Plan, Do, Check, and Act.
1. Plan: In this stage, the organization identifies the problem or opportunity for improvement and sets objectives and targets for the improvement process. It involves gathering data, conducting research, and developing a plan for implementing the changes.
2. Do: In this stage, the organization executes the plan by implementing the changes or improvements. It involves carrying out experiments, making the necessary modifications, and training employees on the new processes or procedures.
3. Check: In this stage, the organization evaluates the results of the improvement process to determine if the objectives and targets have been met. It involves collecting data, analyzing the results, and comparing them with the expected outcomes.
4. Act: In this stage, the organization takes action based on the results of the evaluation. If the objectives and targets have been met, the organization takes steps to standardize the new processes. If the objectives have not been met, the organization goes back to the planning stage to identify the cause of the problem and develop a new plan for improvement.
Project quality management is a set of processes and activities that ensure that a project meets or exceeds the specified quality requirements. It involves the following key activities:
1. Quality Planning: This involves identifying the quality requirements and defining how they will be achieved. It includes developing quality objectives, quality standards, and a quality management plan.
2. Quality Assurance: This is the process of systematically evaluating project activities to ensure that they are being performed as planned. It involves conducting audits, inspections, and reviews to identify any deviations from the quality standards.
3. Quality Control: This is the process of monitoring and verifying that the project deliverables meet the specified quality requirements. It involves measuring the actual performance, comparing it with the planned performance, and taking corrective actions if necessary.
By using project quality management, organizations can improve management processes by ensuring that quality is embedded in all stages of the project lifecycle. It helps in identifying and addressing any quality issues early on, which leads to better project outcomes and customer satisfaction.