Quality control is a crucial but sometimes overlooked element of business. It can be easy for top-notch professional teams to grow so close to their work that they lose perspective, causing them to miss problems a client or customer will later notice. This is why successful project managers need an understanding of workflow, quality control and quality assurance to fix such issues before deliverables ship.
Business leaders have developed various techniques to monitor the quality of work and workflows to correct errors or keep them from happening. For project management professionals who want to develop a deeper understanding of these skills, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (UW-Parkside) online Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Concentration in Program and Project Management program is an ideal choice.
Quality Control Versus Quality Assurance
Project managers who practice quality control can identify errors and correct them during the development of products and services. Quality control is a method of stopping problems before they impact your business. According to monday.com, a company that develops work management software for businesses, “Quality control is the element of the project management plan that saves resources because it reduces the need for do-overs.”
Quality assurance is a concept closely related to quality control, but these two elements of project management have a few important differences. Where quality control is a reactive process that attempts to fix problems after they occur, quality assurance takes the opposite approach by preventing errors before they have a chance to appear, according to Pathstream.
Key Elements of Project Quality Management
The key to pursuing effective quality control is to implement proven techniques that intercept problems early in the lifecycle of a project. Project managers who want to keep a close eye on their teams’ workflow might choose to implement some of the following strategies, including:
Audits
While an audit can come in many forms, it typically evaluates a project for how well its processes align with company policies or regulations, according to monday.com. “Audits can review risks, procurement, quality control measurements, and issues that can cause problems during the project or impact the quality of deliverables,” monday.com states.
Cause-and-Effect Diagrams
Also known as an Ishikawa diagram, a cause-and-effect diagram shows the factors that lead to a final outcome. This diagram can also reveal potential problems in a production or design. According to Investopedia, a cause-and-effect diagram can “outline the different steps in a process, demonstrate where quality control issues might arise, and determine which resources are required at specific times,” making it a key tool in quality management.
The Benefits of Project Quality Management
Professionals who want to take their project management skills to the next level, learn how to prevent problems, and maintain consumer trust through rigorous quality control practices should consider UW-Parkside’s online MBA in Program and Project Management program. Students in the program take courses like Project Management and Advanced Operations Management, which provide key skills to help them improve project outcomes and elevate their careers.
In the long run, a manager who commits to ensuring quality control within their organization can help realize benefits beyond immediate profit. Quality control is a crucial step for businesses to take in an era of constantly evolving technologies and increasingly sophisticated products, writes Claudia Wasko: “Creating a trusted, safe consumer experience is the foundation for both reputation management and brand loyalty, and without it, sustaining a position as an industry leader is nearly impossible.”
Learn more about UW-Parkside’s online MBA with a Concentration in Program and Project Management program.