General
Problems which occur during the course of project
execution and have consequences for product
quality must be identified and documented
in a suitable way; this is done by means of quality
reports and quality problem
reports.
Use of PSE quality reporting is defined in the QM process
instructions (see note at the end of this page!).
Specially selected forms of reporting and the frequency
with which quality reports are to be made must be set out
in the project's QA plan. Quality reports
Quality reports inform management of
the status of quality assurance and quality problems in
individual projects, Business Units or Divisions. The
systematic updating of identified quality problems means
that the treatment and correction of these problems can
be monitored.
Reports should not only contain negative aspects, but
also positive issues such as the QA measures performed,
quality goals planned and reached (or degree to which
they have been reached), status of corrective measures
from quality audits or other improvement processes. Quality
problems are then included in the quality
report and reported to the next level if a measure needs
to be initiated on the report level (or a higher level).
Reporting therefore extends to the level where the
measure is initiated to resolve the problem.
A reported quality problem will continue
to be dealt with in quality reports until the
effectiveness of the envisaged measures has been
ascertained. The quality problem will then not appear in
the next report.
Quality reports must be drawn up (at least) quarterly
on all levels. If need be, a party receiving quality
reports can request (some) subordinate levels to prepare
reports more frequently. Quality reports are also drawn
up if no quality problems have been identified. If a
quality manager also functions in the capacity of a QA
manager, no separate report will be drawn up on the
project level.
Quality problem reports
Quality problem reports are used to inform project
management and management about an acute
quality problem which requires
"immediate" attention. Each member of the
project can draw up a quality problem report when such a
problem is identified and can send it to any member of
the quality organization (generally QA manager of the
project, quality manager of the Business Unit or
Division).
The person receiving the quality problem report must
initiate the elimination of the problem or forward the
report to the relevant body. The implementation of
measures directed at eliminating problems is monitored
via regular quality reports.
Examples of typical quality problems:
- An important operating resource has been missing
for a relatively long time (computer, software,
etc.)
- There are delays in the planned establishment of
the project team (members of the team are
available too late or are not available at all)
- Code reviews are omitted for time considerations
- The test and test automation planning work begins
too late
Where can I obtain further information and
specific samples of quality reports?
The quality reporting procedure in PSE is set out in the
QA process manual (module 715). The corresponding
documents and templates for quality reports can be
downloaded: From the PSE QM Homepage to
the QM system and then to the QA process instructions.
|