Benchmarking
The comparison of a current product to industry standards or past standards to attain a measurement or baseline
Brainstorming [t&t]
A general data gathering and creativity technique that can be used to identify risks, ideas, or solutions to issues by using a group of team members or subject-matter experts.
Common Cause
A source of variation that is inherent in the system and predictable. On a control chart, it appears as part of the random process variation (ie variation from a process that would be considered normal or not usual), and is indicated by a random pattern o
Conformance
Creation and delivery of a product that has met the specified requirements and conformance (or functionality) of use
Conformance to Requirement
The point where the project and product meet the standards of the written specifications defined at project inception (or modified through change control)
Control Chart [t&t]
A graphic display of process data over time and against established control limits, and that has a centerline that assists in detecting a trend of plotted values toward either control limit.
Control Limits
The area composed of three standards deviations on either side of the centerline, or mean, or a normal distribution of data plotted on a control chart that reflects the expected variation in the data. See also specification limits.
Corrective Action
Documented direction for executing the project work to bring expected future performance of the project work in line with the project management plan.
Cost of Nonconformance
Cost associate with not meeting quality expectations of of the project or product.
Cost of Quality (COQ) [t&t]
A method of determining the costs incurred to ensure quality. Prevention and appraisal costs (cost of conformance) include costs for quality planning, quality control (QC), and quality assurance to ensure compliance to requirements (ie training, QC system
Defect
An imperfection or deficiency in a project component where that component does not meet its requirements or specifications and needs to be either repaired or replaced.
Defect Repair
The formally document identification of a defect in a project component with a recommendation to either repair the defect or completely replace the component.
Design of Experiments (DOE)
A process that examines which variables have the greatest outcome on a process or product.
Failure Mode and Effect (FMEA) [t&t]
An analytical procedure in which each potential failure mode in every component of a product is analyzed to determine its effect on the reliability of that component and by itself or in combination with other possible failure modes, on the reliability of
Features
The characteristics that the user desires built into a product.
Fishbone Diagrams (Ishikawa Diagrams)
Diagrams that break down possible areas for failure in a process and allow analysis of impact for the area; sometimes considered an ideal tool for root cause analysis.
Fitness for Use
A product that can be used as it was intended when designed.
Flowcharting [t&t]
the depiction in a diagram format of the inputs, process actions, and outputs of one or more processes within a system.
Flowcharts
Diagrams that display the connectivity of pieces of a system.
Grade
A ranking to classify products that have different functions or features
Influence Diagram [t&t]
A graphical representation of situations showing causal influences, time ordering of events, and other relationships among variables and outcomes.
Ishikawa Diagrams
Diagrams that break down possible areas for failure in a process and allow analysis of impact for the area; sometimes considered an ideal tool for root cause analysis.
ISO 9000
Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as a means to plan, control, and document processes, and overall improve quality
Kaizen
A technique that takes a proactive stance to process development, one that makes improvements throughout a process as time evolves
Mean
The average value in a measurement of a population
Normal Distribution
A bell-shaped curve that is in sync with the mean of the population.
Parametric Estimating
An estimating technique that utilizes historical or industry data to create estimates based on parameters such as per unit or size variable.
Pareto Analysis
Identification of the few problems that have the most occurrence on a measurement in a system / project.
Pareto Chart [t&]
A histogram, ordered by frequency of occurrence, that shows how many results were generated by each identified cause.
Perform Quality Assurance
The periodic analysis of project performance to verify that the project will meet the applicable quality standards.
Perform Quality Control [process]
The process of monitoring and recording results of executing the quality activities to assess performance and recommend necessary changes.
Performance
The level of success at which a product performs its intended use.
Plan Quality [process]
The process of identifying quality requirements and/or standards for the project and product, and documenting how the project will demonstrate compliance.
Population
The entire group of similar criteria (
Prevention Cost
Cost of planning and executing a project within an acceptable range of error ( or error free)
Procedure
A set of activities completed in a certain order to accomplish a desired objective
Process
A set of activities completed in a certain order to create a product, result, or service
Process Adjustments
Adjustments made to modify the output of a process to achieve a better degree of quality
]Project Quality Management [KA]
Project Quality Management includes the processes and activities of the performing organization that determines quality policies, objectives, and responsibilities so that the project will satisfy the needs for which it was undertaken
Quality
The degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfills requirements.
Quality Audits
Reviews of quality activities that apply to lessons learned and can be applied to current and future projects.
Quality Management Plan [i/o]
Describes how the project management team will implement the performing organization's quality policy. It is also a component or subsidiary plan of the PM Plan.
Reliability
The likelihood of a product or service to function as planned.
Rework
Action taken to bring a defective or nonconforming component into compliance with requirements or specifications.
Root Cause Analysis [t&]
An analytical technique used to determine the basic underlying reason that causes a variance or defect or a risk. It may underlie more than one variance or defect or risk.
Sample
A part of the population used for a measurement (instead of the entire population).
Seven Run Rule
A rule that states if seven consecutive data points are on one side of the mean (above or below ) or increasing/decreasing, then the process is our of control and should be investigated.
Sigma
A measurement of acceptability of a product or process
Special Cause
source of variation that is not inherent in the system, is not predictable, and it intermittent. also referred to as assignable cause. Contrast with common cause.
Specification
A document that specifies, in a complete, precise, verifiable manner, the requirements, design, behavior, or other characteristics of a system, component, product, result, or service and, often, the procedures for determining whether these provisions have
Specification Limits
The area, on either side of the centerline, or mean, of data plotted on a control chart that meets the customer's requirements for a product or service. This area may be greater than or less than the area defined by the control limits. see also control li
Standard Deviation
The measurement of variation within a distribution.
Statistical Sampling
Selecting a section of the population to use for a measurement
Threshold
A cost, time, quality,technical, or resource value used as parameter, and which may be included in product specifications. Crossing it should trigger some action, such as generating an exception report.
Value Engineering (VE)
An approach used to optimize project life cycle costs, save time, increase profits, improve quality, expand market share, solve problems, and/or use resources more effectively.