Difference between Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Main difference
Quality assurance and quality control are the two techniques and set of activities that correlate with each other with respect to the production of quality products and services. These two terms are often mixed up as they are used together most of the time. The basic and most fundamental difference between these two terms is that quality assurance is more concerned with the prevention of defects and the production process, while quality control is concerned with the identification of defects. Quality assurance is the nonsense of the quality of the production process, while quality control refers to the quality of the developed product itself.
Comparison chart
| Quality assurance | QA | |
| Definition | Quality assurance is the set of techniques and activities that refer to the production process and application of control over production. | Quality control, on the other hand, is the term used for the products that are developed. It refers to its revision and maintenance after production. |
| Target | The primary goal of quality assurance is to provide error-free product development and processing. | The main objective of quality control is to make sure that the products after their development are kept up to their quality. |
| emphasis on | Production process. | Focus on the product itself. |
| Orientation | Quality assurance is a process-oriented technique. | Quality control is a product-oriented technique. |
| Responsible of | Responsible for ensuring the quality of the production process. Responsible for maintaining the quality of the production process. | Responsible for the quality of products that have been developed but are not yet presented on the market for sale. |
| Tools for | Quality assurance is generally used as a management tool by first line and higher level managers. | Quality control is used as a corrective tool. It is used by proctors and other product review teams. |
| common example | The most common example of quality assurance includes the verification process during the production of a specific product. | The most common example of quality control is the testing and validation of the product after its development. |
What is quality guarantee?
Quality assurance is the term that refers to the set of techniques used to ensure the quality of the production process. Quality assurance is often mixed up with quality control because the two terms are related to each other. Quality assurance refers to the production process. It is used to prevent errors and mistakes during the production process of any product. It is the initial testing process to prevent bugs and errors before they are made. That is why this phenomenon is process oriented because it deals with the prevention of errors in the production process before a product is fully developed and produced. For example, every time software development begins, While the development process measures and checks that are used to ensure software quality and prevent errors and bugs, all these phenomena are classified under quality assurance. In organizations, quality assurance is generally considered a management tool. It is the responsibility of the manager or supervisor to continue to control the production process so that errors and mistakes can be prevented as soon as possible.
What is quality control?
Quality control is the term used for the specific verification tools and techniques that refer to the assurance of product quality after production. Once a product has been developed, it is reviewed and tested over and over again using different tools before it is released for sale. It is totally different from quality assurance and has no concern with the production and manufacturing process. After the product is developed, the phenomenon of identifying errors and mistakes in the product is called quality control. For example, every time software is developed, it is tested over and over again before it is released or delivered to the customer for use, This phenomenon of testing and identifying software bugs falls under the category of quality control. In the organization, quality control is called a corrective or post-test tool. It is used by staff and a special team of workers who are hired specifically to test and validate the product after it is developed.
Quality Assurance vs. Quality Control
- Quality assurance is the term used for the set of tools and techniques that are required to prevent errors and mistakes during the product development process.
- Quality Control is the term used for the set of techniques that refer to the identification of errors and bugs of the product itself after its development.
- Quality assurance is a process-oriented technique.
- Quality control is a product-oriented technique.
- Quality assurance is often a management tool
- Quality control is the corrective tool.
