Implementing the Defect Prevention Process in the MVS Interactive Programming Organization

A process for preventing defects has been gaining momentum in the IBM Corporation as a way to improve quality and increase productivity. The Communications Programming Laboratory in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (near Raleigh), has been implementing the process for the past six years and has realized a 54 percent reduction in errors. This paper documents experiences at the IBM Myers Corners Laboratory MVS Interactive programming area in putting the Defect Prevention Process theories into practice. This paper begins with the proposal to adopt the Defect Prevention Process at the Myers Corners Laboratory in Poughkeepsie, New York, and our experiences thus far. It is our belief that other organizations can benefit from our experiences by understanding how the Defect Prevention Process can be adapted to best meet the needs of any organization.