A company's QA manager and team had become ineffective and were not meeting expectations. The QA team needed expert leadership to get their software project back on track in order to release a complex product on time with acceptable quality.

Nails QA leadership was immediately put in place to provide a more positive, constructive team effort. Performance expectations were reset, a practical QA strategy was developed and progress was measured. Product quality was also baselined, risks identified, testing responsibilities clarified and interim goals defined.

QA team responsiveness steadily improved as a result of daily QA direction and leadership. Testing coverage was focused, more defects were found and quality risk was managed.

This positive trend continued until product functionality and quality reached acceptable levels. Cost overruns associated with project delays and poor quality were eliminated. The QA function was strengthened as the entire product development team had gained more confidence, cohesiveness and synergy. Technical support call also dropped by 35%, no immediate product updates were needed, product reviews were favorable and the project was deemed a success.

Improved processes and lessons learned were integrated into the next project including a rebuilt test lab, software inspections, document reviews and improved testing techniques. New tools were implemented, including test automation for build acceptance and other repetitive tasks. An external beta test program was also established to promote customer-centered software development. All of which helped optimize QA testing efforts and reduce costs.

With these changes, future projects ran smoother with higher quality and schedule predictability. An agile development environment had been established, which along with customer-centered approaches, resulted in a 50% reduction in defect injection and rework.

This showcases the ability of Nails QA to completely revitalize an entire QA team and function.