Quality assurance definition
Quality assurance is the establishment of standards for processes, materials and finished
products that meet applicable regulatory requirements. Quality assurance covers all
aspects of product development and manufacturing from raw material control to process
validation and final product release
What is quality control?
Quality control is the inspection phase of quality assurance. It’s a series of test procedures
used to verify that a product is safe and effective after mass production. Both QA and QC
are necessary. You can’t “test quality into” a product by relying on QC alone.
There are different methodologies for both QA and QC, like Agile, Six Sigma, and other
project management or process improvement strategies. They’re designed to save time
while managing your quality and project development.
1. Proactive (QA) vs. Reactive (QC)
Effective quality assurance is proactive. It aims to prevent defects before they occur through
process design. QC is reactive and exists to identify defects in the quality of products after
they have happened.
2. Process (QA) vs. Product (QC)
QA is process-oriented, and it focuses on preventing quality issues. QC is product-
oriented and focused on identifying quality issues in manufactured products that could
affect customer satisfaction.
QA Processes:
Documentation
Audits
Supplier management
Personnel training
Change control
Investigation procedures
QC Procedures:
Batch inspection
Product sampling
Validation testing
Laboratory testing
Software testing
3. System (QA) vs. Parts (QC)
Quality assurance control systems are the methods and procedures which are used to
safeguard quality standards. Quality control systems measure parts, including the outputs
of the system
4. Crea on (QA) vs. Verifica on (QC)
The result of QA activities is a roadmap for creating high-quality products. It involves
defining standards for product design, manufacture, packaging, distribution, marketing,
and sales.
QC involves verification of products post-manufacture and before distribution, or
confirming safety and efficacy.
5. En re Team (QA) vs. Dedicated Personnel (QC)
QA activities involve standards for training, documentation, and review across the
workforce.
QC is generally the responsibility of certain personnel within the organization whose duties
include following SOPs for product testing.
Differences between Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Definitions of QA and QC
Quality Assurance (QA) refers to the process used to create the deliverables and can
be performed by a manager, client, or even a third-party reviewer.
Examples of quality assurance include process checklists, project audits, methodology
and standards development.
Quality Control (QC) refers to quality-related activities associated with the creation of
project deliverables. Quality control is used to verify that deliverables are of acceptable
quality and that they are complete and correct.
Examples of quality control activities include inspection, deliverable peer reviews and
the testing process.
Quality control is about adherence to requirements. Quality assurance is generic and
does not concern the specific requirements of the product being developed.
Quality assurance activities are determined before production work begins and these
activities are performed while the product is being developed. In contrast, Quality
control activities are performed after the product is developed
No. Versus Quality assurance Quality Control
QA aims to prevent defects QC aims to identify (and
with a focus on the process correct) defects in the finished
Focus on used to make the product. product. Quality control,
It is a proactive quality therefore, is a reactive process.
process.
The goal of QA is to The goal of QC is to identify
improve development and defects after a product is
test processes so that developed and before it's
Goal
defects do not arise when released.
the product is being
developed.
Establish a good quality Finding & eliminating sources
management system and of quality problems through
the assessment of its tools & equipment so that
How
adequacy. Periodic customer's requirements are
conformance audits of the continually met.
operations of the system.
Prevention of quality The activities or techniques
problems through planned used to achieve and maintain
What
and systematic activities the product quality, process
including documentation. and service.
Everyone on the team Quality control is usually
involved in developing the the responsibility of a specific
Responsibility
product is responsible for team that tests the product for
quality assurance. defects.
Verification is an example Validation/Software Testing is
Example
of QA an example of QC
Statistical Tools & When statistical tools &
Techniques can be applied techniques are applied to
in both QA & QC. When finished products (process
they are applied to outputs), they are called as
Sta s cal
processes (process inputs Statistical Quality Control
Techniques
& operational parameters), (SQC) & come under QC.
they are called Statistical
Process Control (SPC); &
it becomes part of QA.
As a tool QA is a managerial tool QC is a corrective tool
Orientation QA is process-oriented QC is product-oriented
