A strategy for painless harmonization of quality standards: A real case

Abstract

Globalization, is pushing companies towards continuous improvement. Quality frameworks addressing SPI practices are classifiable in ones describing: "what" should be done (ISO9001,CMMI); "how" it should be done (Six Sigma, GQM). When organizations adopt improvement initiatives, many models may be implied, each leveraging best practices for addressing improvement challenges. This may generate confusion, extra effort and cost, as well as increase the risk of inefficiencies and redundancies. So, it is important to harmonize quality frameworks, i.e. identify intersections and overlapping parts and create a multi-model improvement solution. Our aim is to propose a Harmonization Process supporting organizations interested in introducing/improving SPI practices. We present: a what/what combination of ISO9001 and CMMI-DEVv.1.2 models in the direction from ISO-CMMI; and detail the what/how perspective by showing how GQM is used to define operational goals that address ISO9001 statements, reusable in CMMI appraisals. The harmonization process has been applied to a SME certified ISO9001:2000. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.