Even if all of an organization's stakeholders work
tirelessly, they will struggle to align their standards and practices in the
absence of a company-wide quality control plan. Learn how quality control plans
lead to process standardization and improvement.
What Is a Quality Control Plan?
A quality control plan establishes quality standards and
accepted procedures for a business or a specific initiative. This document,
also known as a quality control plan, quality assurance plan, or quality
management system, promotes uniform conformance among all stakeholders so that
all team members understand what acceptable outputs look like.
Types of Quality Control Plans
Quality control plans are classified into two types:
organizational-wide plans and project-specific plans.
Organization-wide quality control plans: To address quality
issues throughout its workforce, an organization can implement a company-wide
quality control plan. This type of QCP may include customer requirements,
company-wide standards for deliverables, a quality control system, and
penalties for nonconformance.
Project-specific quality control plans: A team leader or
project manager creates a project-specific QCP when they want to implement
process controls for a specific initiative. A QC plan in a manufacturing
process may concentrate on product quality objectives and methodologies. A
construction quality control plan may include specific work instructions,
quality inspection protocols, corrective actions, and an outline of industry
standards (such as construction project safety and building codes).
Importance of a Quality Control Plan
Creating a quality control plan is an important component of
many organizations' continuous improvement initiatives. Developing and
implementing a QCP fosters a shared understanding of what constitutes
acceptable work, responsible workplace behavior, and what corrective actions
will be taken when stakeholders fail to meet company expectations.
A quality control plan also clarifies organizational work
roles. An employee may be aware of their formal title, but they may be unaware
of how they fit into the myriad workflows that keep the business running. When
they review their company's QCP, it may be the first time they truly understand
their role in the larger picture.
How to Write a Quality Control Plan
When creating a QCP for your own organization, use this
quality control plan template. Your quality control plan should include the
following elements:
Mission statement: Begin your quality control program
by clearly articulating your organization's mission. All stakeholders must
understand why the organization exists and how it views its mission. When your
QC plan aligns with the values in your mission statement, you increase team
members' buy-in.
Stakeholder roles: Create an organizational chart for
your business or project team. Display the chain of command and confirm all
team members' roles.
Supply chains: Summarize the team's process for obtaining
raw materials and other necessary inputs. Explain the quality assurance
procedures that will be used to guide sourcing and procurement.
Workflows: A description of the company's core business
practices is at the heart of a quality management plan. Describe each core work
process in detail. Set expectations for everything from work pace to
deliverable quality. Establish quality review metrics that you will use to
evaluate performance, either for a specific project or for all projects.
Risk management: Define the procedures that the company will
use to mitigate risk. Outline your team's expectations for caution and
compliance. To do business in certain jurisdictions, the company may need to
obtain specific certifications or accreditations; this type of compliance also
falls under risk management.
Qualifications for business partners, contractors, and
subcontractors include the following: A responsible company holds its partners,
contractors, and subcontractors to the same standards as its own employees.
Your QCP should outline the criteria for accepting outside partners.
Quality metrics: Create a checklist of metrics and
milestones that will be used to assess compliance with the company's QC plan.
This could include project deliverable timeframes or a project quality
management process (like peer review or external auditing). This item is
especially important in a project management plan because the quality process
is likely to be specific to the project's outputs.
Corrective action plan: If stakeholders fail to meet the
standards outlined in a quality control plan, an organization or project team
must hold them accountable. Finish your QCP by explaining what happens when
quality standards are not met. Explain what steps must be taken to correct
mistakes. Describe any repercussions for team members who are found to be in
violation of the organization's quality assurance guidelines.
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