A Quality Management Plan (QMP) helps guide the Program Manager (PM) and project personnel to execute quality management and quality assurance activities for a project or program. The QMP is normally developed by a contractor and reviewed by the customer. Quality is the degree to which the project fulfills requirements.

Definition: Quality Management is the act of overseeing all activities and tasks that must be accomplished to maintain a desired level of excellence. This includes the determination of a quality policy, creating and implementing quality planning and assurance, and quality control and quality improvement.

Definition: A Quality Management Plan (QMP) documents the process for ensuring quality measure are implemented on a project by defining quality methodology, standards, criteria, activities, expectations, tools and resources, reporting and corrective actions. The QMP serves as the foundation for quality management on any project.

Purpose of Quality Management Plan (QMP)

The purpose of the QMP is to describe how quality will be managed throughout the project’s lifecycle. Quality management planning determines quality policies and procedures relevant to the project for both project deliverables and project processes, defines who is responsible for what, and documents compliance.

Quality Management Plan (QMP) Templates

A template is a great place to start when developing a QMP. It provides a consistent foundation for the program manager and team members in developing the plan. It makes sure all key elements of a well-written plan are addressed. An organization should adopt its own QMP template for its programs to provide consistency and meet its particular needs. A few templates are provided below:

• Template: Sample Quality Management Plan (QMP)

• Template: IT Project Quality Management Plan (QMP)

Why have a Quality Management Plan (QMP)

Quality is a measure of providing products that are free from defects, deficiencies, and significant variations in the purchase-buyer transaction.  High quality is brought about by the strict and consistent adherence to measurable and verifiable standards to achieve uniformity of output that satisfies specific customer or user requirements. This ensures that the best product is being developed and delivered to your customers. A good QMP will ensure:

• Customer expectations are met and satisfied
• Reduces cost of re-work
• Improves efficiency
• Ensures consistency
• Reduces cost!

Quality Management Plan (QMP) Tutorial

Quality Management Plan (QMP) Key Components

A quality management plan identifies the key quality components listed below:

• Project Deliverables & Project Processes:  The key project deliverables and processes are subject to quality review.
• Deliverable Quality Standards:  The quality standards are the “measures” used to determine a successful outcome for a deliverable. These standards may vary dependent on the type of information technology project.
• Customer Satisfaction:  The customer satisfaction criteria describe when each deliverable is complete and acceptable as defined by the customer. Deliverables are evaluated against these criteria.
• Quality Control Activities: The quality control activities monitor and verify that the project deliverables meet defined quality standards.
• Process Quality Standards:  The quality standards are the “measures” used to determine if project work processes are being followed.
• Stakeholder Expectations: Stakeholder expectations describe when a project process is effective as defined by the project stakeholders. An example is the review and approval of all high-impact changes to the project.
• Quality Assurance Activities: The quality assurance activities that monitor and verify that the processes used to manage and create the deliverables are followed and are effective.

4 Steps of a Quality Management Plan (QMP) Methodology

Step 1: Plan the Development of the QMP

• Identify the customer’s Quality Objectives. Help customers express quality expectations in objective, quantitative terms.
• Identify professional standards, including legal, environmental, economic, code, life safety, and health.
• Balance needs and expectations of customers and stakeholders with cost, schedule, and professional standards. Evaluate the costs and benefits of selected quality objectives and the processes to be used to achieve objectives.
• Develop an effective plan and processes, including quality assurance and quality control procedures, to achieve objectives. Consider risk/hazard factors and complexity of the project and adapt processes to provide the requisite level of quality. Document in the risk management plan any project variations from the local QMP requirements.
• Develop performance measure thresholds to ensure agreement on the definition of success relative to Quality Objectives.
• Ensure customer endorsement of all quality objectives included in the Quality Management Plan.

Step 2: Execute the QMP

• Do the work according to the approved Program Management Plan (PMP) and standard operating procedures.
• Project execution is a dynamic process. The program management team must communicate, meet on a regular basis, and adapt to changing conditions. The Quality Management Plan and PMP may require modification to ensure that project objectives are met.
• Document in Lessons Learned.

Step 3: Perform Quality Checks

• Perform the independent technical review, management oversight, and verification to ensure that quality objectives are met consistently with District Quality Management Plans.
• Check performance against the PMP and Customer Quality Objectives performance measures thresholds to verify that performance will accomplish Quality Objectives and to verify the sufficiency of the plan.
• Share findings with all project stakeholders to facilitate continuous improvement.

Step 4: Take Corrective Action if Necessary

• If performance measures thresholds are exceeded, take specific corrective actions to fix the systemic cause of any non-conformance, deficiency, or other unwanted effects.
• Document quality improvements that could include appropriate revisions to the quality management plan, alteration of quality assurance and control procedures, and adjustments to resource allocations.

Quality Management Plan (QMP) Roles and Responsibilities

The Program Manager is ultimately responsible for making sure a project adheres to the QMP, but they are not the only ones. Everyone involved in a project has an active role in ensuring quality activities and functions are addressed. A few of the other members that have a role in the quality management of a program are listed below.

• Organizational Leadership: A organization’s leadership must make sure quality management is a top priority, and the tools and resources are available.
• Project Manager: Develops the quality management plan and methodology to be followed on a project. Ultimately responsible for quality being met.
• Quality Control Manager: Ensures that all quality management standards are being performed and highlight deficiencies to the PM.
• Members: All project members are responsible for ensuring quality standards and the quality processes followed are met on a project.
• Stakeholders: Sets the expectations for quality on a project and approves the delivery of that product or service.
• Customers: Also sets the standard for quality.

AcqLinks and References:

• Template: IT Project Quality Management Plan (QMP)
• Template: Sample Quality Management Plan (QMP)
• Template: Design-Build Quality Management Plan (QMP) Outline

Updated: 12/31/2022

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