18 KPA Key Process Area

18 Key process areas as defined in CMMi Level 5 model are as follows:

1.Requirements Management
2.Project planning
3.Project monitoring and control
4.Configuration management
5.Suppliers agreement management
6.Requirements development
7.Technical solution
8.Product integration
9.Verification
10.Validation
11.Process and product quality assurance
12.Risk manangement
13.Quantitative project management
14.Casual analysis and resolution
15.Organization process definition
16.Organization processs focus

17.Organization process performance

18.Organization Innovation deployment

It is the certification for the company. It specifies the maturity of the organization in terms of level.
There r 5 levels:
Level 1. Initial - all companies are considered to be Initial even though there is no certification.
Level 2. Repeatable: there are 6 KPAs
Level 3. Defined: there are 7 KPAs in this level
Level 4. Managed: There are 2 KPAs in this level
Level 5. Optimized : there are 3 KPAs in this level
Totally there are 18 KPAs for Level 5 certified company.
I mean a company should satisfy all 18 KPAs then only it can get/maintain the certification.
KPA (Key Process Areas) : Areas that an organization should focus on to improve its s/w process.