QEB: Ensures project deliverables in high standard and good quality and a minimization of cultural differences. The QEB is installed to avoid conflicts due to cultural differences, led by external evaluator to guarantee impartiality. Quality plan foresees regular revision of risks, chances, LFM and describes measures to be taken to ensure an implementation of the activities as planned. The objective of quality management within the project is to assure quality in structures, processes and results of the INTEC-project. Responsibilities for INTEC quality management are shared by FHF as the lead of WP 10 “Quality, Risk & Ethics Control”, WUS Austria as the external quality assurance expert and AC as
the ethics experts. Their work as well as the work of the QEB is guided by the following principles of quality management:

– The quality management system should be as simple and understandable to all partners as possible: As quality assurance concerns all the partners, all of them must understand and agree with the criteria, tools and processes defined in this document.

– Quality management concerns all partners. All project stakeholders are responsible for implementing the quality procedures laid out within the project and everyone is requested to support the implementation of quality assurance.

– Quality management provides a platform for discussions, supervision and conclusions in close cooperation with the project coordination (COO) and the Management Board.

– Quality management is about systematically using our experience for improving the project implementation and its deliverables. It is not about finding faults and blaming people.

– Occurring quality issues will be discussed with a focus on finding solutions; always starting with the partners directly involved. If a solution is not possible on this level, COO and eventually the Management Board will be involved following a standard escalation routine.

– Proper documentation, sharing of information and open discussions are key ingredients for effective quality management. All partners need to have access to relevant information at all times/at the earliest stage possible in order to ensure a quality culture, trusting relationships between partners and an environment that supports an effective workflow.