Stage/Phase-Gate Process – Best Practices Templates

The stage/phase-gate process is the framework for implementing a structured project management process. The stage/phase-gate process defines a sequence of phases and gates that each project must pass through, providing a road map for the consistent, successful execution of projects. Having a well-defined project process helps organizations in two ways: 1) it minimizes the risk that the project team will overlook important tasks that are needed for project success and 2) it defines the points at which the management team will assess progress and make decisions whether to continue investing in the project. The process guides the project team to provide the information necessary to support this decision-making process.

PD-Trak Solutions offers a variety of predefined stage/phase-gate process templates (project process templates) that contain best practices-based process definitions, and each contains a set of tools that are optimized for managing that particular type of project. The Task Plans capture the stage/phase-gate terminology, phase objectives, tasks by phase, documents by phase, and responsibilities.

This page describes predefined project process templates offered by PD-Trak Solutions. These templates may be adjusted to ideally fit your company environment and project needs. Note that the PD-Trak Project Portfolio Management System include a capability to create your own process template and optimized project toolkit.

Best Practices-Based Process Templates

New Product

This stage/phase-gate process template contains a best practices based process for developing next generation new products. These tend to be the longest, highest risk and highest cost type of new product development projects. The process is based on a 6-phase, 6-gate model.

Stage / Phase-Gate Process Model for New Product Development Projects

Additional tools included in this process template are as follows:

Task plans for this process
Gantt chart for this process (MS Project®)
Advance quality plan (Word®)
Competitive assessment plan (Word®)
Customer support plan (Word®)
Design verification plan (Word®)
Manufacturing plan (Word®)
Market definition and forecast (Word®)
Marketing launch plan (Word®)
Product definition (Word®)
Service and repair plan (Word®)
Voice of the customer plan (Word®)

New Product Medical

This stage/phase-gate process template is similar to the New Product process template, but optimized for medical product development projects.

Stage / Phase-Gate Process Model for Medical Product Development

Additional tools included in this process template are as follows:

Advance quality plan (Word®)
Competitive assessment plan (Word®)
Customer support plan (Word®)
Design verification plan (Word®)
Manufacturing plan (Word®)
Market definition and forecast (Word®)
Marketing launch plan (Word®)
Product definition (Word®)
Service and repair plan (Word®)
Voice of the customer plan (Word®)
Clinical test plan (Word®)
Quality assessment (Word®)
Regulatory requirements and plan (Word®)

New Product Software

This stage/phase-gate process template is similar to the New Product process template, but optimized for software product development projects. The Agile methodology may be used as a sub-process within each major phase of the project.

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Advance quality plan (Word®)
Competitive assessment plan (Word®)
Customer support plan (Word®)
Design verification plan (Word®)
Manufacturing plan (Word®)
Market definition and forecast (Word®)
Marketing launch plan (Word®)
Product definition (Word®)
Service and repair plan (Word®)
Voice of the customer plan (Word®)
Functional requirements (Word®)
Software development plan (Word®)
Software test plan (Word®)

Technology Development

This stage/phase-gate process template contains a best practice based process for conducting technology development projects where the deliverable is knowledge rather than a saleable product. These projects are the highest risk projects in the product development area. The process is based on a 4-phase, 4-gate model.

Technology-investigation1

Task plans for this process
Gantt chart for this process (MS Project®)

Information Technology

This stage/phase-gate process template captures a process for IT projects based on a 5-phase, 5-gate process.

Stage / Phase-Gate Process Model for Managing IT Projects

Task plans for this process
Gantt chart for this process (MS Project®)

Capital Projects

This stage/phase-gate process template contains a best practice based process for managing capital projects. The process is based on a 5-phase, 5-gate model.

best-practices-06

Task plans for this process
Gantt chart for this process (MS Project®)
Manufacturing plan (Word®)

Line Transfer

This stage/phase-gate process template captures a process for conducting line transfer projects where a production line is to be moved, relocated or replicated. The process is based on a 3-phase, 3-gate model.

Task plans for this process
Gantt chart for this process (MS Project®)

Process Development

This phase/stage-gate process template contains a best practice based process for developing manufacturing processes. The process is based on a 5-phase, 5-gate model.

Stage / Phase-Gate Process Model for Manufacturing Development

Task plans for this process
Gantt chart for this process (MS Project®)
Advance quality plan (Word®)
Process verification plan (Word®)
Manufacturing plan (Word®)
Process definition (Word®)

Six Sigma

This stage/phase-gate process template captures a process for six sigma process improvement projects. The process is based on a 5-phase, 5-gate Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC) model. PD-Trak contain a variety of the six sigma tools.

Stage / Phase-Gate Process Model for Six-Sigma Projects

Task plans for this process
Gantt chart for this process (MS Project®)
Cause and effect (Excel®)
Pareto chart (Excel®)
Process definition (Excel®)
Process mapping (PowerPoint®)
Root cause analysis (Excel®)
SIPOC (Excel®)
Voice of the customer plan (Word®)

Quotations

This stage/phase-gate process template captures a process for quotation projects where the purpose is to develop a response to an RFQ (request for quotation) or RFP (request for proposal). The process is based on a 4-phase, 4-gate model.

Task plans for this process
Gantt chart for this process (MS Project®)

In summary, PD-Trak’s phase/stage-gate process templates include project management process, project management templates, project management methodology, project report templates, stage / phase gate process and project management best practice information.