Difference between Quality Control and Quality Assurance

• What is Quality Assurance?
• What is Quality Control?
• Association between QA and QC.
• Quality Control vs Quality Assurance activities.
• Quality Control vs Quality Assurance.
• Summary.

 

Difference between Quality Control and Quality Assurance

QA (Quality Assurance) and QC (Quality Control) these two phrases are oftentimes interchangeably related, and people confused them. Terms are similar however; real purpose is non-equivalent. Let’s understand the terms and contrasts in them through the explanation given below.

What is Quality Assurance?

Quality terms simply mean satisfying users’ expectations and specifications regarding the product’s design, functionality, reliability, stability, and cost. Assurance of a product or any service means that it’s going to serve adequately. It guarantees that the product will function according to expectations or specifications without an issue. Quality Assurance (QA) implies a systematic process that determines if a product satisfies specific expectations and obligations.
The ISO (International Standardization Organization) an international federation of organizations is a driving strength for introducing QA. It comprises of a set of standards that are designed to map processes and schemes for implementing QA. Many businesses use ISO 9000 to guarantee their quality assurance scheme is up and running efficiently.

As per ISO, it is defined as “part of quality
management focused on providing confidence
that quality requirements will be fulfilled.”

QA sets plus retains measures for reliable products to be developed or produced. A quality assurance scheme is intended to lift the trust of clients. It obtains the credibility of a business which helps to also enhance job plans. Moreover, it leads to business success and allowing a business to compete strongly with other competitors within the market.

What is Quality Control?

Quality control (QC) term means a method through which the quality of every part included in the production is reviewed by entities. These processes do not deal with the methods involved in the creation of a product; it considers the “Final products” result.

As per ISO 9000, it is defined as “part of quality
management focused on fulfilling quality requirements.”

Quality control’s main objective is to check that the products meet the customer’s specifications and requirements. If a problem or problem is identified, it must be resolved before the customer is delivered. QC also assesses people on their sets of skills at the quality level and provides training and certification. This assessment is necessary for the service-based organization and helps to provide customers with a “perfect” service.

QC approach involves three aspects. First, components like controls, job management, processes defined and very well managed, reliability and credibility criteria and record identification. Second, Competence, such as knowledge, skills, experience, and qualifications. Third is soft components, like Staff, integrity, support, corporate culture, encouragement, self-belief, and quality of bonds. Inspection is a major component of quality control, where visually examining the physical product. Lists and descriptions of unacceptable product defects such as cracks or surface defects will be provided to product inspectors.

The most significant benefit of implementing quality control is that it develops and promotes quality awareness among the factory workers, which is of great help in attaining the required quality level of the product. Production costs are significantly decreased by conducting efficient inspection and control of manufacturing procedures and activities. Quality control further controls inferior product manufacturing and waste, thereby significantly reducing manufacturing costs. By generating better quality products and meeting the requirements of the customer, quality control in people’s minds increases the goodwill of the concern. A reputable issue can readily increase market finances.

Association between QA and QC

QC is a subset of activities related to QA.

Quality Control vs Quality Assurance activities

Quality Assurance	Quality Control
Training of Quality Standards and Processes	Checkpoint review
Tool Identification and selection	Inspection
Defining Process	Testing
Quality Audit	Walkthrough

Quality Control vs Quality Assurance

Quality Assurance	Quality Control
QA is a procedure that emphases on giving assurance that quality requested will be accomplished	QC is a procedure that emphases on fulfilling the quality requested.
QA aims to manage quality- Verification.	QC aims to verify the quality-Validation
QA does not include the execution of the plan	QC always include execution of the plan
QA is a proactive measure. Proactive measures are preventive actions made to reduce the possibility of an incident, and they also set up techniques or procedures to lessen the damage triggered by the accident at the workplace.	QC is a Reactive measure. Reactive measures, on the contrary, are normally random decisions that react to an accident. Generally, these reactions are not the preferred way to deal with the incident. When people get hurt, there is chaos that opens the door to panic and it is poor decision-making.
The objective of QA is to prevent the defect	The objective of QC is to detect and fix the defect
QA is Process focused. A company using the process approach develops a business model based on brainstorming, group discussion, in stages of separate but interrelated activities. The process approach includes resource management and enhancement measurement. The challenge for managers is to ensure that the overall strategy is addressed by individual processes.	QC is Product focused. It compares the production of a business to the amount spent on producing a product, and companies adopt a successful business model previously tested by another organization. This approach’s main thrust is “correctness” or how carefully you manage to adhere to the business or process model.
QA is a Preventive technique. In reaction to identifying potential sources of non-conformity, preventive actions are introduced.	QC is a Corrective technique. Corrective measures are introduced in reaction to client complaints, unacceptable product non-compliance levels, problems detected during an inner audit, as well as negative or unstable product and process surveillance trends as recognized by SPC(statistical process control).
A primary motivation is to avoid system flaws. It’s an activity that takes less time	QC’s primary reason is to detect system flaws or bugs. It’s an activity that takes more time.
QA involves the procedure to generate the deliverables	QC involves the procedure to verify the deliverables
QA applies the statistical technique is identified as SPC or Statistical Process Control (SPC)	QC applies the statistical technique is identified as SQC or Statistical Quality Control (SQC)
QA is a low-level activity, it can recognize errors and inconsistencies that QC cannot identify.	It is a higher-level activity, it can recognize errors and inconsistencies that QA has been unable to identify.
QA aims for complete SDLC (software development life cycle)	QC aims for complete software testing life cycle
QA is executed prior to Quality Control	QC is executed after QA activity is completed
QA establishes standards and methodologies to fulfill customer expectations	QC verifies that while working on the product, the standards are followed properly.
QA needs the participation of the entire team	QC needs the participation of the testing team
QA guarantees that everything is done properly, and that is why it falls within the scope of the verification operation	QC ensures that everything we have accomplished is in accordance with the necessity, and that is why it is validated

Summary

A main competitive differentiator is the quality of products and services. Quality assurance and Quality Control benefits organizations to generate and ship defect-free products that satisfy customer requirements and expectations also verify the product. High-quality products lead to satisfied clients, leading to customer loyalty, repeated purchases, upselling and advocacy.