Quality Assurance (QA)
DE: Qualitaetssicherung (QA)
The process of auditing quality requirements to ensure proper standards are used.
Detailed Explanation
Quality Assurance is the process of auditing the quality requirements and the results from quality control measurements to ensure appropriate quality standards and operational definitions are used. QA is proactive — it focuses on preventing defects by improving processes before problems occur.
QA is fundamentally different from Quality Control (QC). QA is process-oriented and asks: 'Are we following the right processes to produce quality results?' QC is product-oriented and asks: 'Does this specific deliverable meet the quality requirements?' QA prevents defects; QC detects them.
QA activities include: process audits, quality training, standards review, continuous process improvement, root cause analysis of recurring defects, and benchmarking against industry best practices. QA results in change requests to improve project processes.
Key Points
- Proactive — prevents defects by improving processes
- Process-oriented (vs. QC which is product-oriented)
- Includes audits, training, standards review, and process improvement
- Feeds into continuous improvement through change requests
- Ensures the team follows quality standards and best practices
- Different from QC: QA prevents, QC detects
Practical Example
A QA team audits the software development process and finds that code reviews are being skipped due to time pressure, leading to a 40% increase in production bugs. QA recommends making code reviews mandatory (a process change) and implementing automated code quality checks. After implementation, production bugs drop by 35% in the next quarter.
Tips for Learning and Applying
Focus QA on processes, not products — that is QC's job
Conduct regular process audits, even when things seem to be going well
Use QA findings to drive continuous improvement, not blame
Invest in QA early — prevention costs far less than correction
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