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8 - PROJECT QUALITY MANAGEMENT

8.2.2.2 Quality Audits

A quality audit is a structured, independent process to determine if project activities comply with organizational
and project policies, processes, and procedures. The objectives of a quality audit may include:

• Identify all good and best practices being implemented;
• Identify all nonconformity, gaps, and shortcomings;

• Share good practices introduced or implemented in similar projects in the organization and/or industry;
• Proactively offer assistance in a positive manner to improve implementation of processes to help the
team raise productivity; and
• Highlight contributions of each audit in the lessons learned repository of the organization.

The subsequent effort to correct any deficiencies should result in a reduced cost of quality and an increase in 8
sponsor or customer acceptance of the project’s product. Quality audits may be scheduled or random, and may be
conducted by internal or external auditors.

Quality audits can confirm the implementation of approved change requests including updates, corrective
actions, defect repairs, and preventive actions.

8.2.2.3 Process Analysis

Process analysis follows the steps outlined in the process improvement plan to identify needed improvements.
This analysis also examines problems experienced, constraints experienced, and non-value-added activities
identified during process operation. Process analysis includes root cause analysis—a specific technique used to
identify a problem, discover the underlying causes that lead to it, and develop preventive actions.

8.2.3 Perform Quality Assurance: outputs

8.2.3.1 change requests

Change requests are created and used as input into the Perform Integrated Change Control process (Section 4.5)
to allow full consideration of the recommended improvements. Change requests are used to take corrective action,
preventive action, or to perform defect repair.

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