Process Based Mission Assurance (PBMA) Knowledge Management System (KMS)

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Assurance Process Analysis Description

Assurance Process Analysis Description

Assurance Process Analysis, also known as Assurance Process (AP) Mapping, provides a concise graphical and narrative representation of the safety and mission assurance roles, responsibilities, and relationships within a given program or project.

AP Mapping is used by program/project management to actively manage the implementation of SMA requirements and to track the evolving nature of the program/project. With such an analysis, program management can identify gaps in assurance coverage and accountability. This dynamic tool can also serve as a basis for resource requirements and allocation.

When a program has an AP Map, it can serve as a quick, effective reference guide and means of communicating the overall SMA function to senior management and oversight committees.

NPR 8705.6- Safety and Mission Assurance Audit, Reviews, and Assessments, requires SMA management to develop an Assurance Process Analysis in support of program/project major milestone reviews and pre-operational decision forums.

Assurance Process Analysis Sections

Every assurance process analysis, colloquially referred to as an Assurance Process (AP) Map is, in fact, comprised of three, interrelated sections.

Assurance Process (AP) Map
- Graphic representation of roles, responsibilities, and relationships for Agency "assurance agents" supporting the safety and mission assurance activities of a program.
- Provides Senior Management with a "starting point" for seeking Knowledge, Understanding, & Visibility into assurance activities as part of the Safety & Mission Assurance Readiness Review (SMARR).
Assurance Matrix (companion to the AP Map)
- Narrative descriptions of map elements (arrows and boxes).
- Identification of "assurance agents," assurance activities, depth of penetration, levels of independence, points of contact and references.
- Legend page defining keys for depth of penetration and levels of independence.
Directory
- Compendium of names and contact information of assurance agents, key program personnel, and cognizant Agency participants for a program
- Keyed to relevant entries in the AP Map and Matrix.
- Acronyms section

Assurance Process Map Layout Guidelines

Organization in vertical hierarchy
- Plan layout similar to an organization chart- with Agency at top proceeding through Center to Program to the Mission Elements
Mission elements split horizontally
- Group mission elements together for more efficient layout of assurance activities. Convention has placed the spacecraft on the left side of the map and the launch vehicle on the right.
Layout areas are flexible
- Programs are different in structure and organization, so the best layout of the map should group objects logically and with visual comprehension foremost in importance over rigid adherence to the guidelines presented.

Assurance Process Map Notational Layout

See an actual Assurance Process Map Example

Important Points!

Group objects on the map logically and with a hierarchy
Budget space for vectors, information flows, reviews, and program-unique elements
Don't forget to include a Legend

Assurance Process Matrix Layout Guidelines

Contents Checklist

1- Reference: Numerical reference to correlate row information to assurance vectors/entities on the map
2- Mission Phase

: Keyed reference of row entry's applicability to the program's life-cycle phases
3- Assurance Activity: Detailed description of activity/entity including specific actions and requirements
4- Level of Independence

(LOI): Keyed reference to the level of managerial and funding independence of activity/entity
5- Depth of Penetration

(DOP): Keyed reference to the scope and frequency of activities
6- Point of Contact: Identification of person responsible for implementing or managing the assurance vector/entity

Assurance Process Matrix Notational Layout
Title Layout Area
Reference	Mission Phase	Assurance Activity	LOI	DOP	Point of Contact

See an actual Assurance Process Matrix Example

Important Points!

Be concise, but provide sufficient detail to adequately inform a casual, but knowledgeable reader
The detailed information within the matrix drives the content and the layout of the map - develop both concurrently

Assurance Process Directory Layout Guidelines

Contents Checklist

1- Name: Alphabetical listing of all individuals referenced in the AP map and matrix including individuals that are not points of contact for assurance vectors
2- Location: Primary location for individual, by contractor site, work center, NASA center or geographic area
3- Organization: Brief listing of organization that the individual represents
4- Telephone: Telephone number of the individual with area code (and international codes if necessary)
5- Map Reference: Keyed reference to activities that the individual is the point of contact

Assurance Process Directory Notational Layout
Title Layout Area
Name	Location	Organization	Telephone	Map Reference

See an actual Assurance Process Directory Example

Important Points!

The map and matrix will be studied, but the directory is the section most frequestly used
Remember to budget time and resources to complete this task before the press of the deadline

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Last Updated: Jul 31, 2008
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