How can you define quality objectives and criteria for your process design projects?

1 Quality objectives

Quality objectives are the specific results that you want to achieve from your process design project. They should align with your overall business goals, customer needs, and process performance indicators. Quality objectives should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. For example, a quality objective for a process design project could be: Reduce the defect rate of product X by 20% in six months.

2 Quality criteria

Quality criteria are the measures that you use to evaluate the quality of your process design project. They should reflect the expectations and requirements of your stakeholders, such as customers, employees, managers, regulators, and suppliers. Quality criteria should be SMARTER: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound, evaluated, and reviewed. For example, a quality criterion for a process design project could be: The defect rate of product X is measured monthly by using a random sample of 100 units and a quality control chart.

3 Quality planning

Quality planning is the process of identifying and documenting the quality objectives and criteria for your process design project. It involves defining the scope, deliverables, roles, responsibilities, and resources of the project, as well as the quality standards, methods, tools, and techniques that will be used to ensure quality. Quality planning should be done at the beginning of the project and updated as needed throughout the project lifecycle. Quality planning helps you to establish a clear and consistent vision of quality for your process design project.

4 Quality assurance

Quality assurance is the process of checking and verifying that your process design project meets the quality objectives and criteria that you have set. It involves applying the quality standards, methods, tools, and techniques that you have planned to monitor and control the quality of the process design activities and outputs. Quality assurance should be done during the execution and closure phases of the project and reported regularly to the stakeholders. Quality assurance helps you to identify and prevent quality issues and risks in your process design project.

5 Quality improvement

Quality improvement is the process of analyzing and improving the quality of your process design project based on the feedback and data that you have collected from the quality assurance activities. It involves identifying the root causes of quality problems, implementing corrective and preventive actions, and evaluating the effectiveness of the actions. Quality improvement should be done continuously throughout the project lifecycle and after the project completion. Quality improvement helps you to enhance the performance and value of your process design project.

6 Quality management

Quality management is the overall process of ensuring that your process design project delivers the desired quality outcomes for your stakeholders. It encompasses the quality planning, assurance, and improvement processes, as well as the communication and coordination of quality activities and information among the project team and stakeholders. Quality management requires a culture of quality, a commitment to quality, and a continuous learning and improvement mindset. Quality management helps you to achieve customer satisfaction, stakeholder engagement, and process excellence in your process design project.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?