This paper presents a discussion of the need for better quality management, followed by descriptions of what the authors currently consider to be the two most effective instruments of its achievement; these are the project (or product) quality plan and its associated test plans. Finally, there is a discussion of the use of the quality plan and test plans beyond their initiating projects, followed by a summary and some thoughts on future work. A brief set of references is appended, mainly as an indication of the starting point for the concepts and procedures described in the rest of this paper.