Quality Assurance vs Quality Control

QA (Quality Assurance) and QC (Quality Control) are different from each other, and they are part of quality management. Quality Control is product-focused, and Quality Assurance is process-focused. Quality Assurance is the process of preventing defects from occurring by enhancing the process.

Quality Control is the process of checking the service or product for assuring that the product or service is working properly. In this article, we will discuss the critical differences between Quality Assurance vs Quality Control.

In this Quality Assurance vs Quality Control blog, we will discuss the following topics:

QA vs QC: Table Of Content

• What is Quality Assurance?
• What is Quality Control?
• Comparison between Quality Control and Quality Assurance
• Real-Time Example For Quality Assurance (QA)
• Real-Time Example For Quality Control (QC)

 In this article, we have enlightened the essential aspects of Quality Assurance vs Quality Control which will help you understand both Quality Assurance and Quality Control.

Difference Between Quality Assurance and Quality Control

So, let us begin with the Quality Assurance definition first, which I am going to talk about in the section below.

What is Quality Assurance?

Quality Assurance is also known as Quality testing. Quality Assurance is a group of activities to assure the organization is offering the best services or products to the customers.  We determine the quality assurance activities before the production work begins, and we will perform those activities while developing the product.

What is Quality Control?

Quality Control is also known as QC, and it identifies the defects. Quality Control assures that the techniques, methods, approaches present in the project are working correctly. Quality Control activities supervise and check whether the project deliverables satisfy the quality standards.

The quality control process is a responsive process and is identical in nature. The quality control process takes place after the Quality assurance process.

Comparison between Quality Control and Quality Assurance

ISO outlines quality control as an element of quality management that emphasizes satisfying the quality requirements. Quality Assurance is an element of quality management that focuses on giving the confidence that quality needs will be satisfied.

We must have standard planning of the process, in the context of Quality assurance must be revealed for providing the confidence to the software quality. Quality assurance review will focus on the project process elements.

Defining methodology and evolving standards are examples of the Quality Assurance domain. Quality control focuses on the planning of the operational methods. In some deliverables, Quality control is identifying the defects in them.

Real-Time Example For Quality Assurance (QA)

For example, our team is working on entirely new technology for the upcoming project, and our team members are unfamiliar with the technology. So, we have to create a plan to get the team members skilled in the technology.

According to our knowledge, we have to collect the essentials like design documents, functional requirement documents, technical requirement documents, etc. After collecting them, we have to share them with our team members.

These documents would be helpful while working on the technology, and they are also useful for new entrants to the team. Document collection and training are part of the Quality Assurance process.

Real-Time Example For Quality Control (QC)

Upon completing the training, how can we assure that it was efficiently done for the team members?

To do this, we have to gather the statistics, for instance, the marks the trainees secured in each subject and the minimal marks anticipated after finishing the training. Moreover, we can assure that everyone has taken the training by verifying their attendance.

If team members’ marks are up to the mark,  we can say that training is successful; else, we have to enhance the training process. By collecting feedback from the team members, we can improve the training process. Therefore, such activities are part of the Quality Assurance process. 

Conclusion

The job of software testers is to identify and avoid defects produced while developing the product or providing a service. A clear understanding of Quality Assurance vs Quality Control concepts of everyone in the software project can minimize the defects, establishes an efficient management plan, and assure the right quality products. I hope this article provides you with the required information about Quality Assurance and Quality Control.