Difference Between Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Certainly, When we talk of any product our major focus is on the quality of the product. Continuing primarily the difference between quality control and quality assurance. Let’s talk about quality management. Firstly, the quality of a product depends on good raw materials, efficient manufacturing, and packaging. Secondly, the management team ensures that all necessary processes are attended to for the production of a good product.

In addition, to meet the high-quality standards of the company the production process has two key parts- Quality Control and Quality Assurance.

 

What is Quality Assurance?

Moreover, this part of quality management assures the quality procedures of the production life cycle of any product. However, they enact processes that ensure high Quality control throughout the production, manufacturing, and packaging of the product. Quality assurance helps to prevent defects and by this, it can provide a guarantee to company management inside as well as to clients outside. Quality Control Certification Courses will help you in knowing everything in detail.

Besides, let’s take an example of a QA process in auditing where a company compares the quality condition of its product to define quality standards during an auditing process.

What is Quality Control?

Although, it is a type of task that company management uses to identify defects in a product. Quality control is the activities that involve the identification of certain problems with the product and its control after the process of production.

To be specific, a product is tested to meet its defined standards before it reaches its clients and customers. Besides, an example of a QC process is testing in software development for product validation, which ensures the software functions as expected and meets the product quality standards.

Difference between Quality Assurance and Quality Control

1. Overview:

Quality Control

• Firstly, QC is a process that helps to fulfill the desired request of the customer for product quality.
• A QC goal is to identify the defects and make them error-free.
• QC is a method to verify quality.
• QC always involves executing the program.
• The testing team is responsible for QC.
• QC Example: Validation.
• QC involves activities to improve product quality.
• In (SQC), QC employs the Statistical Technique.
• What is desired is fulfilled by it.
• It gives assurance of product quality standards.
• Finally, QC is the process of verifying deliverables.

Quality Assurance

• It is a process that helps to assure a better and fair delivery of standard quality products to its clients and customers.
• A Quality Assurance goal is to prevent defects and deliver error-free products.
• Further, QA is the technique of managing quality.
• Quality Assurance does not involve executing the program.
• All team members are responsible for QA.
• QA Example: Verification
• QA means Planning for doing a process.
• Statistical Process Control (SPC) is used in QA to monitor and control statistical variables.
• It makes sure you do the right things.
• Subsequently, quality assurance defines standards and methodologies to follow to meet customer requirements.
• It is the process of fair delivery.

 

2. INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES

Quality Assurance

The term “quality assurance” (QA) refers to the methodical steps taken to ensure that the product(s) delivered to customers meet their performance, design, reliability, and maintainability expectations as agreed upon in contracts and other agreements.

Quality Control

Because it’s a concrete product to examine and monitor, the concept of Quality Control may be alien to many service firms. While, quality control of the service itself may not be part of the quality assurance function in a service company, quality control of any products used in the provision of the service may be. 

However, services can include documents such as reports, contracts, or designs, as well as real goods like blood units or rental cars to make sure that the service satisfies consumer needs, a service organization may need to control product quality.

3. Inspection Process for QA and QC

Inspection is the process of assessing a product or service’s attributes through measurement, examination, and testing; Predetermined requirements are used to compare and ascertain compliance. To ensure that the final product leaving a manufacturing line or the rendered service is accurate and satisfies requirements, examinations of products, procedures, and a range of other outcomes should be conducted.

4. Quality Auditing

Equally important, auditing is part of the quality assurance function. Charles Mill stated that auditing and inspection are not interchangeable in The Quality Audit: A Management Evaluation Tool (McGraw-Hill, 1988). The audit should not be included in any verification procedures that result in a product or service being accepted or rejected.

The auditor may use inspection techniques as an evaluation tool and the assessment of the procedures and safeguards of the production and verification activities have to be conducted through an audit. 

Formal management systems guide and control organizations and environmental or other management systems, there are quality management systems (QMSs), and many of these.

5. Prerequisites and Tools required for quality control and assurance

However, for effective quality management, certain abilities are required. These include tech proficiency, the ability to lead, organization skills, strong communication, and a keen attention to detail.

• Six Sigma

It is a corporate management approach that strives to improve process quality by reducing and eventually, eliminating errors and variances, which makes it significant in the context of quality management.

Eventually, Six Sigma helps guarantee a better product by enabling quality control and assurance. 

• Minitab

Having expertise with and knowledge of Minitab, a statistical program used in quality management, is helpful for effective use. This software helps make operations more efficient by finding and predicting patterns. And, revealing hidden correlations between data, and producing visualizations.

• Lean management

Lean management is another key idea in quality management and a set of methods is designed to eliminate all waste and non-value-adding operations from a company.

Since the goal of both QA and QC is to minimize or completely eradicate waste. Learning about lean manufacturing can enhance your abilities.

• Theory of constraints

Using the theory of constraints (TOC) methodology, we find bottlenecks and constraints. Because both QA and QC procedures seek to increase development efficiency, this is crucial. TOC enables quicker development, lower inventory, and increased profit.

Why pursue a career in quality management?

Consequently, if you work in quality assurance or control. The firms who want to maintain satisfied consumers and smoothly operate operations. while delivering optimal products and services will be looking for you and they will provide numerous opportunities.

 

Future Prospects of Experts in QA and QC

Moreover, as an expert in quality assurance or quality control, you can work in almost any business. Here are a few instances:

• Production: 

Firstly, Verify items and goods to make sure they adhere to quality requirements.

• Foodservice: 

Ensure products meet FDA and other legal requirements and food safety standards.

• Health care:

Ensure the best patient outcomes by designing policies and procedures

• Corporate retail: 

Stop faulty goods from entering the marketplace

• Information technology:

Test hardware, software, and other products to identify issues and work with developers to resolve them.

• Engineering:

Supervising builders and contractors to guarantee job performance and safety

• Transportation: 

Construct and maintain roads, curbs, sidewalks, bridges, and other structures and modes of transportation with quality.

• Education: 

Finally, Monitoring quality in academics, administration, and related services.

Learn More About the Difference between Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Henry Harvin is one of the best-known Institutes to learn about QA and QC Management and Planning. Here, You will experience a well-versed learning environment, a hard-working professional, and also further guidance about your career.

They will provide you with certain tools and upgrade your skills accordingly. Furthermore, the Quality Management course and Quality Control Courses are available at a very minimal amount, which you can check with the links provided.

Features about Henry Harvin:

• One-year Gold Membership
• Flexible Schedule
• Weekly Boot Camp Sessions
• Attend Unlimited Live Sessions
• Get Recording of all Batches

Conclusion

Indeed, a good company’s quality management plan will gain the trust of all parties involved. However, both quality control and quality assurance have their significance in building good products. Keeping in view all this information, various courses related to Quality Management, QC certification, and Product Management are provided by Henry Harvin.

Recommended Links

1. Top 10 Hacks for Quality Control in the Garment Industry in 2024
2. Twenty Golden facts about quality control Process You Cannot Miss
3. What Is Quality Planning And Why Is It Important?
4. Quality Circle- Definition, Benefits, and Process
5. Quality Management Tools: A Complete Guide

FAQ’S

1. Why is Quality Assurance more important than QC?

QA is more important than QC because it prevents defects. Besides, if the defects occur then through quality control we can identify and fix the defects.

 

2. Can you have QA without QC?

Both QA and QC depend on each other. QC helps to identify errors and fix it while QA   helps to prevent errors.

 

3. What is the aim of QC?

Consequently, the main aim of QC is to agree on quality standards.

 

4. Why is QA and QC similar, but different?

Both, QC and QA work towards similar goals. It includes detecting errors, providing high-quality products, and optimizing product development. However, they are different in their roles.

 

5. What are the benefits of Quality Management?

Altogether, Quality Management helps the company to provide a good quality product and boost its production by applying corrective measures.