Skip to content
Added to your CPD log

View or edit this activity in your CPD log.

Go to My CPD
Only APM members have access to CPD features Become a member Already added to CPD log

View or edit this activity in your CPD log.

Go to My CPD
Added to your Saved Content Go to my Saved Content

What is quality management and control?

Definition

Quality is the fitness for purpose or the degree of conformance of the outputs of a process or the process itself to requirements.

Quality control consists of inspection, measurement and testing to verify that the project outputs meet acceptance criteria defined during quality planning. It is focused on preventing problems being passed on to the internal or external customer.

Quality planning takes the defined scope and specifies the acceptance criteria used to validate that the outputs are fit for purpose to the sponsor. It is focused on the specific outputs of a project to enable quality control during deployment.

Definition from APM Body of Knowledge 7th edition

Introimage Resources Whatisqualitymanagement 1000X1000

Test plans

For quality control to be effective, configuration control of specifications and test plans is vital. As part of quality planning test plans will have been agreed and include:

  • Sample size of tests, for example the whole item or a percentage chosen at random.
  • Test protocols, including resources required – people, equipment – third-party expertise or facilities.
  • Independent performance or witnessing of tests, by a regulator or process owner from business-as-usual.

In all quality control activities, decisions need to be made about the degree of conformance of the output tested to the specification and acceptance criteria, and what action to take in the event of non-conformance.

Projects deliver a huge variety of outputs and are consequently subject to many forms of quality control depending on the technical nature of the work and the particular requirements of individual industries.

The project professional agrees the quality control regime for the project drawing on input from relevant technical experts rather than by reference to generic processes.

Elements of Quality Management

Elements of quality management
Source: Starting out in project management, 3rd edition

Related reading

Individual with a tablet interacts with a robot
What will make delivering quality easier, boosting project success?
People are a critical part of the ‘project system’ and must feel motivated to make it work. For example, many estimating systems suffer from the ‘GIGO’ principle i.e. garbage in, garbage out... read more.
Productcard Monet Resources Whatisinvestmentappraisal 1920X1080
Understanding requirements, the basis of delivering quality
The APM Body of Knowledge 7th edition defines quality as “the fitness for purpose or the degree of conformance of the outputs of a process or the process itself to requirements” so to deliver quality one must meet the requirements... read more.
A woman wearing a lab coat inspecting a test tube
Successful quality management requires expert risk management
Projects often report that senior managers fail to set project budgets at a level consistent with the necessary standards of quality, cost and delivery, with the inevitable result that too many projects are at risk and fail on at least one of these requirements... read more.
Productcard Whendoesquality Resources Whatisqualitymanagement 1920X1080
When does quality need to be managed?
Quality needs to be managed throughout the complete project life cycle. That means quality management must begin right at the start of the project to be really effective... read more.
Productpanelsuccessfulqualitymgmt Whaispmwhatisriskmanagement 1920X1080
Managing quality in the project supply chain
Almost all projects involve a supply chain, and the cultural, commercial and geographic gaps between members of the supply chain can lead to catastrophic quality issues, both intentional and unintentional... read more.
Silhouetted electricity towers against a vibrant sunset
Planning for quality is planning for success
There is a cost associated with quality control, both time and money, and there is almost always a ‘penny wise, pound foolish’ pressure to cut those costs, but they are usually dwarfed by the cost of poor quality... read more.

Introduction to project control

There is a narrow view of control which is about delivering projects in accordance with their plans, using disciplines like earned value and risk management. Introduction to Project Control, offers a wider perspective, which includes doing the right projects.

Buy from bookshop
Logo for Pro Contract Services

APM Planning, Monitoring and Control Interest Network

The generic area of operation is project control, focusing on the techniques and processes listed as well as interfaces to other subject areas, e.g. risk, governance, programme and portfolio management. 

Get involved in the community

APM Body of Knowledge 7th edition

The APM Body of Knowledge 7th edition is a foundational resource providing the concepts, functions and activities that make up professional project management. It reflects the developing profession, recognising project-based working at all levels, and across all sectors for influencers, decision makers, project professionals and their teams. 

Buy from the bookshop
A book titled APM Body of Knowledge placed on an office desk

You may also be interested in

Laptop screen showing the APM Learning dashboard
APM Learning

The APM Learning portal is an online resource which provides members with access to digital guides, modules and other digital learning resources as part of the membership benefit.

Man wearing headphones using a tablet whilst sat on the sofa
What is ...?

Browse our popular project management 'What is ...?' topics for definitions, quick insights, view related case studies, research, blogs and glossary.

A magazine spread featuring a vibrant photo of diverse individuals engaging on a lively city street.
Project Journal

Project – APM's official journal – is circulated quarterly for members only, and online for regularly updated news, blogs, opinions and insights for those in the project community.

A woman engaged with her laptop, accessing a website while seated at a desk in a well-lit environment.
APM Community

The APM Community is our online community platform that connects our members faster and easier than ever before.