Quality Reporting


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.


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Last modified: 08/28/98 09:56
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