The Difference Between Quality Assurance and Quality Control

The difference between Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Innovation in our companies is critical. To survive and even thrive in today’s competitive and at times combative market, every company needs to have their point of difference. To establish this, innovation needs to take place, a product needs to be developed to help you stand out from the crowd. The winners are the ones with a high quality product with a point of difference that addresses the customers need in the most effective way.

This is nothing new.

But sometimes, in the rush to get there first we can let the quality side slip, and that’s where Quality Assurance and Quality Control comes into their own.

But what are they?

The terms are often used interchangeably, and in many cases the roles required can be enacted by the same personnel, but there are some key differences.

First, basic definitions:

What is Quality Assurance?

Quality Assurance, also known as QA Testing, is defined as an activity to ensure that an organization is providing the best possible product or service to customers.

What is Quality Control?

Quality Control is a systematic set of processes used to ensure the quality of products or services. The main purpose of the quality control process is ensuring that the product meets the actual requirements by testing and reviewing its functionality (ie: it does what it says on the box). Quality control is popularly abbreviated as QC.

So what are the differences, and why are they important?

• Quality Assurance is aimed to avoid the defect whereas Quality control is aimed to identify and fix the defects.
• Quality Assurance provides assurance that quality requested will be achieved by setting up systems prior to production whereas Quality Control is a procedure that focuses on fulfilling the quality requested by systems such as random testing and by fixing any issues that may develop.
• Quality Assurance is done primarily in innovation and product development stages whereas Quality Control is done in the production cycle.
• Quality Assurance is a proactive measure whereas Quality Control is both a proactive and a reactive measure.
• Quality Assurance is performed before Quality Control.

In conclusion, Quality Assurance is the prevention while Quality Control is the detection, the treatment, and the cure.