| IPPD Program Assessment software - a methodology for benchmarking and improvement |
IPPD PROGRAM ASSESSMENT SOFTWAREDRM Associates |
The Integrated Product and Process Development (IPPD) Program Assessment
software in intended for aerospace and defense contractors, capital equipment
manufacturers, and other organizations that develop a product or system
under contract. It is used to assess an individual program's application
of IPPD practices. While the companion Product Development
Best Practices and Assessment (PDBPA) software is used to assess the
enterprise's product development process based on 260 best practices, the
IPPD Program Assessment focuses on how well an individual development program
applies IPPD practices. It describes approximately 180 best practices and
provides a related set of questions to assess a program's application of
these practices. An evaluation scale describes in narrative form the characteristics
at each rating level. Weighting factors allow the evaluation to be tailored
to the critical success factors of the program. The IPPD Program Assessment
provides the program manager and program personnel with an understanding
of IPPD practices and it provides the program with a cost effective and
structured approach to benchmarking and improving program performance. This
general benchmarking and assessment methodology is described in Benchmarking Best Practices for Improving Product Development.
Performance is summarized to the category level, and gap analysis is
then employed to focus attention on the improvement opportunities that will
yield the highest payoff. In addition to the self-assessment option, we can provide support in
organizing the assessment, facilitating the assessment process, reviewing
the assesment results, and developing an action plan for improvement. This
approach begins with a interactive workshop to brief company personnel on
the assessment process and organize into groups to undertake a self-assessment.
Consultant participation in the group self-assessment brings some objectivity
and perspective to the process. The results of the individual break-out
assessment groups are presented to the overall team and further validated.
Finally, gap analysis is performed and the resulting needs discussed. The
consultant facilitates discussion of an action plan. This process typically
takes two to three days. A more comprehensive alternative is a rigorous,
comprehensive and object consultant-led Program Assessment. |