Evaluation of quality assurance practices across project management departments of manufacturing industries

Emerging market preferences, dynamic product innovation and ever-changing PEST (Political, Economic, Social and Technological) scenarios have driven the requirement of staunch policy upgradation, constant research, and development and thus concoction of profit generating production units. Manufacturers, around the globe, are thus compelled to adopt project management tools and techniques that can ensure adaptability of process, time efficiency and cost saving, that too at a desirable quality. Generally, project managers are more likely to converge all their efforts and endeavors towards timely completion of such projects with major focus on budget controlling and monitoring. Thus, completely or partially, undermining the contribution of quality assurance and control practices towards overall success of project. As a result, quality assurance, have been confined to project file documentation, some ticking-boxes checklists and lip service. The objective of this paper is to re assert the importance of quality assurance throughout all the phases of project management lifecycle, and thus highlighting its contribution towards a successful project. To achieve that, this paper presents literature work regarding incorporation of quality mindset in all five phases of project management. Research Survey Methodology is adopted, which examines the current practices in industry, understanding level of quality concepts among project managers and challenges faced through the experiences and feedbacks from 15 randomly selected project managers, across different age groups, industries, and countries. The study finishes with survey findings, generated conclusions, and proposed tools for effective quality assurance as a reference for future use.