WORLD CITI COLLEGES
GRADUATE SCHOOL
WORLDCIT OLEGS
GRADU TESCHO L 1
Chapter 5 Quality Assurance
Course Intended Learning Outcomes
This written report aims to:
Discuss and define what quality assurance is.
Differentiate Quality Assurance from Quality Control
Discuss components, general principles, and functions of Quality Assurance
What Is Quality Assurance?
The quality assurance process helps a business ensure its products meet the quality
standards set by the company or its industry. Another way to understand quality
assurance (QA) is as a company’s process for improving the quality of its products.
Many businesses view their QA program as a promise to internal stakeholders and
customers that the company will deliver high-quality products that provide a positive user
experience.
What’s the Difference Between Quality Assurance vs. Quality Control?
Quality assurance is a broad process for preventing quality failures. The QA team is
involved in all stages of a product’s development: production, testing, packaging, and
delivery. In contrast, quality control (QC) is a narrower process. QC focuses on detecting
mistakes, errors, or missed requirements in a product.
WORLD CITI COLLEGES
GRADUATE SCHOOL
WORLDCIT OLEGS
GRADU TESCHO L 1
The two key differences between QA and QC are:
1. QA is proactive vs. QC is reactive.
The QA team operates proactively. They seek to uncover and address the sources of
quality problems, such as human error or a business using the wrong materials. Whereas
the QC team is reactive, checking the product for mistakes or components not built to
specification.
Here is another way to understand this distinction: QC seeks to catch quality errors, while
QA seeks to uncover and fix the issues that lead to quality errors.
2. QC takes place after development, while QA is ongoing.
The QC team performs their tests after the product team has built the product. So they
are looking only to catch errors and bugs before the company makes the product
available to customers. On the other hand, the QA team is working throughout the
development process, making sure each aspect of the product is on track to deliver a
high-quality customer experience.
What Do Quality Assurance Engineers Do?
The roles of quality assurance engineers will vary by company and industry. Using
software as an example, a QA engineer’s job description might include the following
responsibilities:
WORLD CITI COLLEGES
GRADUATE SCHOOL
WORLDCIT OLEGS
GRADU TESCHO L 1
Usability testing
Feature testing
System testing
Integration testing
Creating test plans built on automated scripts to test the product
Developing standards to ensure quality software code
Component of Quality Assurance
1. Strategic Level – Long Term Decision (quality policy)
2. Tactical Level – Medium Term Decision (training, facilities, operation of QA)
3. Operational Level – Day to day operation (SOP’s worksheet)
General Principles of Quality Assurance
Fit for purpose. The product should be suitable for the intended purpose.
Right first time. Mistakes should be eliminated.
Functions of Quality Assurance
• To maintain standards and specification for all raw material and finished product.
• To give service to company in all areas related to product quality includes trouble
shooting, visiting, production, facilities, designing and training Quality control panel.
• To produce information that is accurate, reliable and adequate for the intended
purpose.
WORLD CITI COLLEGES
GRADUATE SCHOOL
WORLDCIT OLEGS
GRADU TESCHO L 1
• Evaluating performance, service of the quality of a product against a system,
standard or specified requirement for customers.
References:
https://www.compliancequest.com/
https://www.productplan.com/glossary/quality-assurance/
