Improvement to the quality of software products delivered to the client: Code and documentation

Abstract

Elimination of product defects is critical in order to provide quality products to the client. A peer review process and preventive actions were implemented in a software development department; with the objective to reduce the defects by at least 20% in the products delivered (code and documentation). Historical data about defects was collected. The defects were analyzed, classified; their root causes were identified and preventive actions were implemented. It was found that the implementation of the peer review process alone, reduced the quantity of defects in about 23%, and the implementation of preventive actions combined with the peer review, reduced the defects occurrence in about 40%. It can be concluded that the implementation of a peer review process and the effective identification and implementation of preventive actions can reduce the quantity of defects significantly. Key Terms ⎯ Defects, preventive actions, root cause, six sigma.