Quality Control Plan: How to Write a Quality Control Plan

A quality control plan sets forth quality standards and accepted procedures for a company or for a specific initiative. Also known as a QC plan, a quality assurance plan, or a quality management system, this document promotes uniform conformance among all stakeholders so that all team members understand what acceptable outputs look like.

There are two main types of quality control plans: organization-wide plans and project-specific plans.

• Organization-wide quality control plans: An organization can implement a company-wide quality control plan to address quality issues throughout its workforce. This type of QCP may list customer requirements, company-wide standards for deliverables, a system for quality checks, and consequences for nonconformance.
• Project-specific quality control plans: A project-specific QCP is created by a team leader or project manager who wishes to implement process controls over a specific initiative. In a manufacturing process, a QC plan might focus on product quality objectives and methodologies. A construction quality control plan might implement specific work instructions, lay out quality inspection protocols, describe corrective actions, and articulate a set of industry standards (such as construction project safety and building codes).

For many organizations, developing a quality control plan is an important component of a continuous improvement initiative. Creating and implementing a QCP creates a shared understanding of what constitutes acceptable work, what constitutes responsible workplace behavior, and what corrective actions will occur when stakeholders fail to meet company expectations.

A quality control plan also clarifies work roles within an organization. An employee might know what their formal title is, but they might not know exactly how they slot into the myriad workflows that keep the business running. When they review their company’s QCP, it might be the first time they truly see the role they play in the company at large.

Use this quality control plan template when crafting a QCP for your own organization. Your quality control plan should include:

• Mission statement: Start your quality control program by clearly articulating the mission of your organization. All stakeholders must share a common understanding of why the organization exists and how it views its mission. If your QC plan aligns with the values in your mission statement, you ensure greater buy-in from team members.
• Stakeholder roles: Lay out an organizational chart for your company or project team. Show the chain of command and verify the roles of all team members.
• Supply chains: Summarize the team’s process for sourcing raw materials and needed inputs. Explain the quality control procedures that will guide sourcing and procurement.
• Workflows: At the heart of a quality management plan is a description of the company’s core business practices. Describe each core work process step-by-step. Lay out expectations for everything from pace of work to quality of deliverables. Establish quality review metrics—either for a specific project or for all projects—that you will use to evaluate performance.
• Risk management: Clearly delineate the procedures the company will use to mitigate risk. Outline the expectations for team member caution and compliance. The company might need to receive specific certifications or accreditations to do business in certain jurisdictions; this type of compliance also falls in the category of risk management.
• Qualifications for business partners, contractors, and subcontractors: A responsible business holds its partners, contractors, and subcontractors to the same standards that it holds its own team members. Your QCP should describe the acceptance criteria for taking on outside partners.
• Quality metrics: Establish a checklist of metrics and milestones you will use to evaluate compliance with the company’s QC plan. This might include timeframes for project deliverables, or it might include a project quality management process (like peer review or external auditing). This item is particularly important in a project management plan since the quality process will probably be unique to the project’s specific outputs.
• Corrective action plan: An organization or project team must hold stakeholders to account if they fail to live up to the standards set forth in a quality control plan. Conclude your QCP with an explanation of what happens when quality standards are not met. Explain what corrective actions must be taken to correct mistakes. Also describe any consequences for team members who are found in noncompliance of the organization’s quality assurance guidelines.

To climb the corporate ladder, you must first learn the fundamentals of leadership and innovation. Discover Rosalind’s approach to change management and agile teams, plus learn how to lead through crisis when you sign up for the MasterClass Annual Membership.