Systematic process improvement using ISO 9001:2000 and CMMI

4.2 CMMI ® 97
• Identifying and measuring product and process attributes that are
important contributors to quality and process performance;
• Identifying and addressing special causes of subprocess variations;
• Managing each of the selected subprocesses, with the objective of
bringing their performance within natural bounds;
• Predicting the ability of the process to satisfy established quantitative
quality and process-performance objectives;
• Taking appropriate corrective actions when it is determined that the
established quantitative quality and process-performance objectives
will not be satisfied.
Generic Practice GP 4.1: Establish Quantitative Objectives for the Process
Establish and maintain quantitative objectives for the process that address
quality and process performance based on customer needs and business
objectives.
Why is this important
To effectively define and improve the standard processes, an organization
has to establish and maintain a set of quantitative quality and process performance
objectives. These objectives are reviewed and agreed on by the relevant
stakeholders. Note that the objectives may also cover intermediate
objectives that are important in managing the organizational processes over
time. This generic practice is closely related to the Quantitative Project Management
PA.
Generic Practice GP 4.2: Stabilize Subprocess Performance
Stabilize the performance of one or more subprocesses to determine the
ability of the process to achieve the established quantitative quality and
process-performance objectives.
Why is this important
To predict overall process performance and product quality, critical subprocesses
must be stable. A stable process shows no significant special causes
of variation. Processes or subprocesses that have intermediate quality and
performance objectives have to be quantitatively understood so that the
overall process may achieve the established objectives.