Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Quality Assurance-
Its process oriented. In this we basically focused on planning and documenting those processes to assure quality including inspection, test plans all quality plans. It makes sure that we are doing the right things in right way. Or we can say that it is the process of auditing quality requirements and the results from quality control measurements to ensure appropriate quality standards.

In this practice, a constant effort is made to enhance the Quality standard in organization. In this, we generally focus on defect prevention.

Quality Control-
Its product oriented. This involves techniques and activities used to achieve and maintain the product quality, service and process. In this we basically focused on fulfilling quality requirements as a part of quality management. It makes sure the results of what we have done are what we expected. Or we can say that it is a process of monitoring and recording results of executing the quality activities to assess performance and suggest necessary changes. A verification process takes place to ensure that the stakeholders are adhered to the defined standards and procedures. In this, we generally focus on defect identification.

Difference-

Quality Assurance	Quality Control
It is a process used to measure and assure the quality of a product.	It is a process of meeting products and services to consumer expectations.
It is process oriented.	It is product oriented.
It deals in developing systems and processes that align with Quality Management System.	It deals with monitoring activities of products.
In this planned and systematic activities (including documentation) are followed in order to prevent from quality problems.	In this we just measures and determine the quality level of product and services. Operational techniques and activities are used to fulfill requirements of quality.
It is a failure prevention system.	It is a failure identification/detection system.
It is a proactive quality process because it identifies problems/weaknesses in processes.	It is a reactive quality process because it identifies issues/defects and corrects them also.
It defines the standards/methodology to be followed in order to meet the customer requirements.	It ensures that the defined standards are followed at every step.
Overall all the participated team members in developing the product are responsible for quality assurance.	It is usually the responsibility of a specific team that tests the product for defects.
QA is a managerial tool	QC is a corrective tool
Tasks are mostly conducted by managers, customers and third party auditors.	Tasks are conducted by experts who are directly involved with the design, or manufacture of a product, engineers and inspectors etc.
It makes sure that we are doing the right things in right way.	It makes sure the results of what we have done are what we expected.
It does not involve executing the program or code.	It always involves executing the program or code.

 

Verification is an example of Quality Assurance	Validation (Software Testing) is an example of Quality Control.
It is done before Quality Control.	It is done only after Quality Assurance activity is completed.
It is a staff function.	It is a line function.
All the concerned activities are done before the product is manufactured or the service delivered.	Activities are done during the manufacturing process and once the product is manufactured.

 

 

Written By: – Pooja Gupta, QA Engineer, Mindfire Solutions