Meaning
Governance processes control the advancement of a project through successive development phases by requiring specific hazard mitigations to be verified. Executing risk gatekeeping prevents a project from moving from prototype to full-rate production while outstanding technical issues remain unresolved. This screening occurs at defined review points between project phases, such as the transition from design to manufacturing, ensuring that all safety and regulatory compliance requirements are met before additional funds are released.
Quality Assurance
Transitioning to high-volume manufacturing with unproven designs leads to high defect rates and expensive product recalls. When risk gatekeeping is executed diligently, it ensures that all design verifications and material certifications are completed before the assembly lines begin running. This discipline maintains high product standards.
Capital Protection
Committing to expensive tooling before a design is finalized is a frequent cause of budget overruns. Gatekeepers review the test results of prototype batches to confirm that the product meets performance requirements before authorizing capital expenditure. This step prevents the loss of funds on obsolete equipment.
Operational Flow
Structured reviews help coordinate the activities of the engineering, quality, and supply chain departments. By requiring sign-off from each department, the process ensures that all operational risks are addressed collectively. This joint authorization reduces the risk of post-launch delays.
