Effective test management is a critical part of developing high quality software and hardware products. Through well-planned and well-managed testing processes, teams can ensure that they are producing the best products possible, while making the most of their limited resources. The need to manage increasingly complex software products has resulted in the need for smart test management practices across every project. An effective test management process should lead to one common goal: to ship high quality products that meet customer needs. To achieve this goal, it's essential that teams work within a proven process framework. Competition among software suppliers to develop the best products in the shortest amount of time is leading to an increasing need for highly developed test management processes. With the right focus, effective test management processes will increase customer satisfaction and will lead to smoother and more consistent projects.