Using Software Quality Methods to Reduce Cost and Prevent Defects

www.stsc.hill.af.mil 23 S can be considered a product whose production is fundamentally similar to other products. Improving the quality of software can be approached using the same basic principles espoused by quality pioneers such as W. Edwards Deming, Philip B. Crosby, and Harold F. Dodge. These principles can form a practical framework for ensuring that appropriate requirements are set for software development projects. By connecting established software engineering practices to the objective of defect prevention, we can apply the principles of quality management to software development. Using modeling techniques, it is possible to predict the potential cost savings and defect reduction expected. Quality management is a well-established discipline with historic roots in manufacturing industries. W. Edwards Deming [1], Philip B. Crosby [2], and others have written and taught extensively in the field. The classical approach to quality management can be summarized in these simple steps: 1. Analyze product defects to determine root causes. 2. Modify processes to address and remove root causes of defects. 3. Fix defects using improved processes. By following this approach, we can realize the goal of improving product quality by removing the causes of defects. As Crosby put it: “Quality is free. It’s not a gift, but it is free. What costs money are the non-quality things—all the actions that involve not doing jobs right the first time” [2].