ABSTRACT
In determining the infrastructure needed to develop and operate the processes some are product, project, contract or order specific, others are needed for maintenance and growth of the organization. As the infrastructure is a critical factor in the organizations capability to meet customer requirements, and ability to continually meet customer requirements, its management is vital to the organization's success. Providing infrastructure simply means acquiring and deploying the infrastructure that has been determined as being necessary for the operation of its processes to achieve conformity of products and services. The identification and provision of the infrastructure needs little explanation but in maintaining it the implications go beyond the maintenance of what exists. Maintenance is more to do with maintaining the capability the infrastructure provides. Unless the infrastructure is maintained or contingency actions taken when necessary, the desired results will not be achieved. A failure to maintain adequate infrastructure and contingency plans can adversely affect the organization's performance.
