Title: Process audit: from compliance to self-management

Authors: M. Hosein Faltah

Addresses: Product Realization Technologies, Lucent Technologies Bell Laboratories, 101 Crawfords Corner Road, Room 2M-530, Holmdel, New Jersey 07733, USA

Abstract: In the past decade we have seen phenomenal improvements in the New Product and Service Introduction processes (NPSI). Applications of tools and methods, and use of process and quality management approaches have enabled companies to reduce continuously their cycle time, introduce products faster, cheaper, with higher quality, and better satisfy market needs. Among the enabling technologies, audits and assessments have played a critical role in driving these improvements. In major companies, these have become a permanent fixture of the NPSI processes. This paper discusses evolution of audits and assessments, and application of these tools from products to processes. The author presents recent developments in process audits for software and hardware development, some results achieved, and future trends.

Keywords: audit; assessment; process audit; process management; quality; software quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1997.001718

International Journal of Technology Management, 1997 Vol.14 No.2/3/4, pp.277-286

Published online: 17 Aug 2003 *

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