Summary

Conduct technical reviews with the supplier as defined in the supplier agreement.

Description

Technical reviews are used by the acquirer to confirm that products and services being developed or produced by suppliers meet end user needs and requirements.

Technical reviews should have the following characteristics:

  • Are conducted when the technical solution under development satisfies review entry criteria (i.e., event driven, not schedule driven)
  • At a minimum, are conducted at the transition from one acquisition phase to the next and at major transition points of technical effort
  • Have their processes and requirements addressed in and required by the supplier agreement


 

Typically, the project’s technical plan (e.g., the systems engineering management plan) documents the timing, conduct, entrance criteria, and success or exit criteria used for technical reviews.


Refer to the Project Planning (PP) (CMMI-ACQ) process area for more information about establishing and maintaining plans that define project activities.


 

Technical reviews typically include the following activities:
  • Reviewing the supplier’s technical activities and verifying that the supplier’s interpretation and implementation of requirements are consistent with the acquirer’s interpretation
  • Ensuring that technical commitments are being met and that technical issues are communicated and resolved in a timely manner
  • Obtaining technical information about the supplier’s products
  • Providing the supplier with insight into customer and end user expectations and requirements regarding functionality and quality attributes
  • Providing appropriate technical information and support to the supplier


 

Examples of technical reviews that can be conducted include the following:
  • Initial Technical Review (ITR)
  • Alternative System Review (ASR)
  • Integrated Baseline Review (IBR)
  • Technology Readiness Assessment (TRA)
  • System Requirements Review (SRR)
  • System Functional Review (SFR)
  • Preliminary Design Review (PDR)
  • Critical Design Review (CDR)
  • Test Readiness Review (TRR)
  • System Verification Review (SVR)
  • Production Readiness Review (PRR)
  • Operational Test Readiness Review (OTRR)
  • Physical Configuration Audit (PCA)


Example Work Products



  1. Review schedule
  2. Entry and exit criteria
  3. Review results
  4. Documented issues (e.g., issues with customer requirements, product and product component requirements, product architecture, product design)


Example Supplier Deliverables



  1. Progress reports and process, product, and service level measurements
  2. Technical performance measurements
  3. Review materials and reports
  4. Action items tracked to closure
  5. Documentation of product and document deliveries


Subpractices



1. Identify participants for the technical review.

2. Conduct the technical review.

3. Analyze and record results of the review.

4. Use the results of technical reviews to improve the supplier’s technical solution.

The results of some reviews may require changes to the supplier agreement.

Refer to the Solicitation and Supplier Agreement Development (SSAD) (CMMI-ACQ) process area for more information about preparing a solicitation package, selecting one or more suppliers to deliver the product or service, and establishing and maintaining the supplier agreement.