# 3 Guidelines for Using Reference Points The following guidelines have been defined for use of reference points: Reference points are agreed between the manufacturer's and the supplier's project managers. Reference points are assigned a due data in the project plan. Preparation for and evaluation of input must be completed by this date, and output is scheduled. Goals, additional instructions (form and involvement, frequency) and the associated checklist must adequately describe the tasks associated with completion of reference points. The "standard" actions are: Manufacturer and supplier prepare up front for items to be addressed at a reference point Check and evaluate the input (if not done previously; adopt if possible). Generate the output or associated agreements (for example, update a to-do list or initiate an instruction). The output can refer both to activities/tasks already planned or to activities/tasks that are newly introduced. Agree on steps to be taken in case of deviation from the plan The manufacturer and supplier consolidate information (from various functional areas) relating to the reference points. The content agreed to must be complete at the agreed point in the schedule to successfully close a reference point. In case of "non completion" of a reference point, action must be defined and implemented to achieve a "completed" status. New completion dates are assigned to non-completed reference points (refer to Figure 3).

Figure 3: MEPRO results; MEPRO reference point expansion in case of non-completion