> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.planeconnection.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Conduct a DCT Assessment

> Run a Design and Compliance Tool (DCT) self-assessment to evaluate your SMS effectiveness across existing processes, documentation, and special emphasis areas.

By following this guide, you will run a DCT self-assessment to evaluate your SMS effectiveness, score each element, identify improvement areas, and export a compliance-ready report.

<Info>
  **Who should read this:** Safety managers and quality assurance personnel responsible for SMS evaluation. The accountable executive should review DCT results during management reviews.

  **Prerequisites:** Safety Manager or Admin role. Familiarity with your organization's SMS processes and documentation. A completed or in-progress SMS implementation (see [Setting Up Your SMS](/en/tutorials/setting-up-sms)).
</Info>

<Note>
  The DCT filters its questionnaire based on your FAA peer group, configured in **Safety > Settings > Operator Classification**. If your peer group has changed, update it before starting a new assessment. For background on DCT element types, peer groups, and scoring levels, see [FAA Part 5 Overview](/en/explanation/faa-part-5).
</Note>

## Run the DCT Assessment

<Steps>
  ### Step 1: Navigate to the DCT assessment

  1. In the Safety module sidebar, select **Compliance**.
  2. Open the **DCT** tab (or navigate to **Compliance > DCT**).
  3. If this is your first assessment, start a new assessment. If you have one in progress, resume it.

  PlaneConnection loads the questionnaire filtered to your organization's peer group.

  ### Step 2: Score each element

  For each question in the questionnaire:

  1. Review the question text, CFR reference, and pillar tag.
  2. Score the element (0--3) based on your honest assessment of your organization's current state.
  3. Add notes explaining the basis for your score -- reference specific procedures, documents, or practices.
  4. Upload evidence files that support your assessment (procedure documents, training records, audit reports, meeting minutes).
  5. If you need to gather more information before scoring, flag the element for later review.

  <Tip>
    Be honest in your self-assessment. The DCT is a diagnostic tool -- inflated scores defeat its
    purpose. A score of 1 ("Present Not Effective") on an element is valuable information that tells
    you where to focus improvement efforts. The FAA expects SMS implementation to be a progressive
    journey, not perfection on day one.
  </Tip>

  ### Step 3: Monitor progress

  Use the progress tracker at the top of the page to see how many questions are answered, unanswered, and flagged. Filter by status to focus your work.

  ### Step 4: Review the score summary

  After scoring all applicable elements, navigate to the **Summary** tab. Review per-pillar scores and your overall score out of 24. Identify the weakest pillar -- this is where your SMS needs the most development.

  ### Step 5: Resolve flagged questions

  1. Filter the question list to show only **Flagged** items.
  2. For each flagged question, gather the additional information needed and assign a final score.
  3. Remove the flag after scoring.
  4. All flagged questions must be resolved before the assessment can be finalized.

  ### Step 6: Export the DCT report

  1. Click **Export as PDF** on the summary page.

  2. The report includes:
     * Assessment metadata (date, assessor, peer group)
     * Per-pillar scores with element-level detail
     * Overall score and level badge
     * Evidence references for each element
     * Identified gaps (elements scored 0 or 1)
     * Recommendations for improvement

  3. Use this report for:
     * Internal management review presentations
     * FAA surveillance preparation
     * Benchmarking progress over time (compare successive DCT assessments)
     * Informing your compliance improvement plan
</Steps>

## Address Gaps

Elements scored at 0 or 1 represent gaps. For each gap:

1. Determine whether the process or documentation needs to be created (score 0) or improved (score 1).
2. Link the gap to the corresponding compliance element in your Part 5 tracker.
3. If the gap represents a material deficiency, [create a CPA](/en/how-to/sms/create-cpa) to track the remediation.

<Tip>
  Run DCT assessments quarterly or semi-annually to track SMS maturity over time. Compare scores
  across assessments to measure the effectiveness of your improvement initiatives.
</Tip>

<Warning>
  The DCT assessment is a self-evaluation tool, not a substitute for the Declaration of Compliance.
  A high DCT score indicates SMS maturity but does not exempt you from the formal DOC submission
  requirement. Use the DCT to prepare for and validate your compliance posture before submitting the
  DOC.
</Warning>

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Track Compliance" href="/how-to/sms/track-compliance">
    Monitor Part 5 compliance elements alongside your DCT results.
  </Card>

  <Card title="FAA Part 5 Overview" href="/explanation/faa-part-5">
    Understand the regulatory requirements assessed by the DCT.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Compliance Timeline" href="/explanation/compliance-timeline">
    Key milestones on the path to your Declaration of Compliance.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Prepare Your Declaration of Compliance" href="/tutorials/prepare-doc">
    Use DCT results to inform your DOC preparation.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>