7 essential ingredients of a quality management plan

What is the main goal in one project? I am sure that you have a few answers and they are all true. I say this because they lead to only one answer and that is client happiness. In other words, the happier the client is, the more successful your project will be.

But, how do we make the client happy? From our experience here at LetsBuild operations, the secure route to client satisfaction and happiness is establishing a clear process as part of the whole quality project management plan.

The unified name for this part is the Quality Management Plan (QMP)

The QMP enables the client to feel secure about you delivering the promised results. In other words, it is a formal blueprint, where you describe and chart the system and the activities that will be executed in order to meet the client’s criteria. From your viewpoint, the QMP enables you to be in control when it comes to executing and delivering the desired level of quality.

Also, the QMP should contain the processes and techniques that you will use to uncover the quality requirements. Most of the times, the quality requirements and criteria are not known when you are creating the actual plan.

Now, when we got that out of the way, let’s see what are the 7 essential ingredients of QMP:

1. Discovering the quality requirements

This is basically the process you are going to use in order to find out how the client will assess the quality of the results you are bringing on the table.

2. Setting quality standards

Determining and announcing the quality standards that you are going to follow in the execution of the project.

3. Who will do what?

What are the roles that need to be officialized in order to meet the quality criteria? You should describe them and determine their responsibility tasks. You are right, the project manager is responsible for the overall results but, depending of the scope of the project, quality assistance can be assigned. This area can include inspectors, auditors, third-party testing specialists etc.

4. Setting the criteria for completeness and correctness

I am sure that you will agree when I say that the best way to make the client happy is to actually ASK what will make him happy and how he/she wants things to be done. So, working with the client up front to define the success is essential and crucial for long-term lucrative relationship. After you do this, then you aim to meet that reality and overdeliver. Basically “give them what they want, and then, sell them what they need” approach.  I know that this goes without saying, but PLEASE don’t underdeliver.

5. What is the system for assuring constant quality?

In order to assure the client that the quality is being met constantly, you should disclose the QA processes. Even if this process/processes are being conducted by third parties, you should introduce and define the main QA activities and techniques used.

6. What tools you are going to use for quality measurement?

Here you should list and elaborate on the tools you are going to use throughout the project cycle.

7. How we are going to control the quality?

Here you should explain the process of setting up a quality control process and activities. The activities within the QC process should be executed continually throughout a project. Also here, you can go in depth about the precise activities and techniques for quality control.

Conclusion

As you can see, the quality management plan is a segment of the overall project plan that is essential for your client and your future. If it seems like it is a lot of work, it is. However, smart construction project managers are always on a lookout for tools that can help them optimise the workflow without hurting the quality.