# **Process Quality Assurance (PQA)** _((Approval of the PQA indicates an understanding of the purpose and content described in this deliverable. By signing this deliverable, each individual agrees on proposed subsystems roles and business logic it is responsible for; Test Planning and Detailed design work should be initiated on this project and necessary resources should be committed as described in Charter document.))_ **Document Revision History** | Version | Date | Change Information | Author | Approver | | ------- | ---- | ------------------ | ------ | -------- | | V1.0 | Feb 25, 2026 | Initial Draft | Melisha Dsouza | Pooja Thorat | ### **1. Introduction** **Quality assurance** identifies weaknesses and issues related to the process and will make sure that nothing like that surfaces. It works on continually **improving the process** of producing a better product and process. Quality assurance should begin in the early phases of a project to establish **plans, processes, standards, and procedures** that will add value to the project and satisfy the requirements of the project and organizational policies. Those who perform quality assurance activities participate in establishing **plans, processes, standards, and procedures** to ensure that they fit project needs and that they will be usable for performing quality assurance evaluations. ### **2. Purpose and Goals** The practices in the Process Quality Assurance process area ensure that planned processes are implemented. - The **first goal** of Process and Product Quality Assurance is to **periodically evaluate processes and work products.** - The **second goal** stems from the first. Based on the results of evaluations, it should **provide objective insight** to the organization as to how the project teams are succeeding with process compliance and work product standards. ### **3. Scope** This process is concerned with **CMMI Level 3**. The implementation of best practices to plan and conduct audits to ensure the Process and Product Quality. **It includes** - Planning and conducting the audits for every area - Verify Work Products - Documenting and reporting the results to managers and affected individuals. - Metrics Report Validation - Assigning auditing actions to individuals or groups to address identified non-compliances, and tracking auditing actions to completion ### **4. Policies** PQA Policies Should have, - Required checklists to ensure PQA - Maintain the PQA reports - Share engineering and management practices across the development groups ### **5. Records of PQA** | Record | Where to Get? | |---------------------------|-------------------| | Audit Plan | Process Area_PQA | | VV Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | RDM Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | PR Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | PLAN Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | CM Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | PI Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | TS Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | PQA Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | EST Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | MC Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | MPM Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | PCM Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | CAR Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | DAR Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | OT Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | GOV Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | II Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | PAD Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | SAM Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | RSK Checklist | Process Area_PQA | | Work Products Checklist | Process Area_PQA | ### **6. Audit Life Cycle** - **Short term Projects** - Project Life: 14 Months - Audit Iteration: 4-5 - Iteration Gap: 12 days - **Mid-term Projects** - Project Life: 6 Months - Audit Iteration: 7-8 - Iteration Gap: 15 days - **Long-term Projects** - Project Life: 12 months - Audit Iteration: 13-14 - Iteration Gap: 15 days **Note:** - Long term projects audit iteration depends on project life if it’s more than 12 months. The auditor shall be responsible to define the audit life cycle. - Audit life cycles and plans will be updated according to additional features or CR we receive for the project ### **7. Roles and Responsibility** | Role | Responsibility | |------|----------------| | PQA Auditor | • Responsible for preparing the Audit Plan <br> • Responsible for conducting PQA Audit <br> • Ensure compliance with established internal control procedures by examining records, reports, operating practices, and documentation <br> • Complete audit work papers by documenting audit tests and findings in the report | | Auditor | • Responsible for auditing all process areas except PQA, as per the Audit Plan <br> • Ensure compliance with established internal control procedures by examining records, reports, operating practices, and documentation <br> • Complete audit work papers by documenting audit tests and findings in the report | | Auditee | • Inform relevant employees about the objectives and scope of the audit <br> • Provide required resources to ensure an effective and efficient audit process <br> • Appoint employees to meet with the audit team <br> • Provide access to facilities and evidential materials as requested <br> • Cooperate with auditors to achieve audit objectives <br> • Determine and initiate corrective actions based on the audit report | ### **8. Skills Required** | Role | Required Skills | |------|-----------------| | PQA Auditor | • CMMI Knowledge <br> • Ability to draft Quality Assurance policies and procedures <br> • Interpret and implement QA standards and procedures <br> • Evaluate adequacy of QA standards <br> • Devise sampling procedures and reporting directions for quality data <br> • Review implementation and efficiency of quality and inspection systems <br> • Data Analysis | | Auditor | • CMMI Knowledge <br> • Data Analysis <br> • Metrics Analysis and Reporting <br> • Drafting Skills | | Auditee | • CMMI Process Knowledge <br> • Documentation Skills | ### **9. Process Flow and Description** ```mermaid flowchart TD A[Project Onboarded] --> B[PQA Auditor Decides PQA Team] B --> C[Create Detailed Audit Plan After Project Plan Completion] C --> D[PQA Team Evaluates Processes, Documents & Work Products] D --> E[Communicate Quality Status with Auditee] E --> F[Prepare Audit Findings with Non-Compliances] F --> G[Report Findings to Management] G --> H[Request Resolution for Non-Compliances] H --> I[Allocate Time for Resolution] I --> J{Non-Compliances Resolved?} J -- No --> D J -- Yes --> K[Close Audit] %% Escalation Condition J -- Not Resolved Within Agreed Timeline --> L[Escalate to Higher Management] ``` - Once the project is on the board PQA Auditor will be responsible to decide PQA team of the project - PQA auditor will create detailed audit plan once the project plan is done - According to the audit plan, the PQA team objectively evaluates processes, document results & work products (Critical to the project according to the project plan). - The PPQA team communicates quality status with the auditee. - The PPQA team prepares the audit findings to report mentioning the non-compliances encountered. - The audit findings are then reported to the management and are asked for the resolutions of the non-compliances reported. - The required time is allotted for the resolution and the audit is again performed until those non-compliances are not resolved. - If noncompliances are not resolved till the last audit then the project audit will be considered as failed. ### **10. Verification and Validation** Verify that all the processes have been followed, the way they are mentioned in the QMS along with the evidence of their practices. ### **11. Measurements** Measurements for PQA, - Audit Compliance Report - If the Average of Area Compliance >= 95% Then Conclusion=Very Good - If the Average of Area Compliance > 80% Then Conclusion= Good - If the Average of Area Compliance is Between 60% to 80% Then Conclusion= OK - If the Average of Area Compliance < 60% Then Conclusion= Bad - If the Average of Area Compliance < 40% Then Conclusion= Very Bad - Work Product Compliance - If the Average of Work Product Compliance >= 95% Then Conclusion=Very Good - If the Average of Work Product Compliance > 80% Then Conclusion= Good - If the Average of Work Product Compliance is Between 60% to 80% Then Conclusion= OK - If the Average of Work Product Compliance < 60% Then Conclusion= Bad - If the Average of Work Product Compliance < 40% Then Conclusion= Very Bad ### **12. Entry and Exit Criteria** - **Entry Criteria** - Audit Plan - **Exit Criteria** - Audit Finding Reports ### **13. Acronyms and Abbreviation** | Acronym / Term | Abbreviation / Definition | |------------------|---------------------------| | PQA | Process Quality Assurance | | Non-compliance | Failure to act in accordance with the defined process | | PQA Auditor | A person who plans audits and checks the PQA process | | Auditor | A person who conducts an audit | | Auditee | A person or organization that is audited |