Analysis of Quality Assurance (QA) Effectiveness

Abstract : The lack of meaningful measures of effectiveness for the Quality Assurance (QA) function within the Defense Contract Administrative Services (DCAS) has been a serious deficiency for many years. With the availability of new, automated data from the QA Management Information System, these measures are made possible through the Quality Effectiveness Sensing Technique (QUEST) model which is documented in this report. QUEST evaluates the Government-driven Contract QA Program and the contractor-driven product conformance through a set of indicators using multi-attribute decision-making methods. These techniques combine quantitative statistical analysis with subjective factors provided by QA experts. The model was successfully tested by comparing QUEST measures with supervisors' opinions throughout DCAS organizational elements and is in test at one DCAS region.