Difference Between Quality Assurance vs Quality Control (QA Vs QC)

Before we learn the difference between Quality Assurance vs Quality Control. First, let’s understand the following topics along with the QA vs QC

What is Quality?

The word quality has many meanings. If you look in a dictionary, you will find several definitions as shown in the below image.

The term quality is much more complicated than it appears.

Dictionary definitions are not sufficient to understand the concept.

The presence of quality is difficult to identify but its absence is easy to identify.

Quality is defined as a well-made product that won’t break easily. Also, we can say quality as meeting or exceeding the needs and expectations of a customer.

Quality is not an act; it is a habit – Aristotle

What is Software Quality?

Wikipedia describes software quality as follows:

Software Quality is a hypothetical concept.

Software Quality is defined as the product meets or exceeds the requirements and needs of customers and it is free from defects. 

A software quality product always makes the customer delight with respect to functionality, design, reliability, durability, & price of the product.

What is Quality Management?

Quality management ensures that an organization, product, or service is constantly pursuing excellence.

Both Quality Assurance and Quality Control concepts are part of Quality Management.

The terms QA and QC are often used interchangeably. Even though these two terms are similar, there are some differences between the two concepts.

In this article, we will show you the difference between QA & QC in detail.

What is Assurance?

If you look at the word assurance in a dictionary, you will find several definitions as shown in the below image.

Assurance is a positive declaration that intends to give confidence to the product.

It gives a guarantee that the product will work without any glitches as per the requirements or expectations.

What is Quality Assurance?

Quality Assurance involves in process-oriented activities. It ensures the prevention of defects in the process used to make Software Applications. So the defects don’t arise when the Software Application is being developed.

Quality assurance has a defined cycle called the Deming cycle or PDCA cycle.

Learn the phases of the PDCA Cycle here.

What is Control?

If you look at the word assurance in a dictionary, you will find several definitions as shown in the below image.

Control is to verify errors in order to maintain standards by testing the output against the specification.

What is Quality Control?

Quality Control involves in product-oriented activities. It executes the program or code to identify the defects in the Software Application.

What is the difference between Quality Control vs Quality Assurance (QC vs QA)

It is essential for an organization to acknowledge the consequences of Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC). Both structures a necessary part of the organization’s quality management plan.

Typically, the terms QA (Quality Assurance) and QC (Quality Control) are relatively utilized by individuals, particularly the individuals who are new to the field of Software Testing, regardless, this doesn’t seem right.

Both QA and QC are two one of a kind way to deal with improving the nature of the product being worked on, and they are at the core of Software Development.

In any case, both assume the first job in the test procedure.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control are identified with one another, yet they are started dependent on various stages.

Quality Assurance is, to a higher degree, a procedure focused methodology, and it centers around the anticipation of bugs or defects. Which basically means we come up with authentic plan and strategies so that more and more defects could be found either before the development starts or during the early stages of the development.

However, Quality Control is a product-focused methodology, and it centers around the recognition of defects and of course fixing them as soon as possible based on their priority.

Quality Assurance vs Quality Control Comparison

Below is a comprehensive table enlisting the apparent differences between Quality Control and Quality Assurance, for better understanding of the reader:

Quality AssuranceQuality ControlQA uses a static testing technique and it falls under verification which means to make sure that product is being developed as per the requirements.QC uses a dynamic testing technique and it falls under validation which means that performs all user’s expectations are met in the developed product.QA aims to prevent defects.QC aims to identify and fix defects.QA is a preventative technique.QC is a corrective technique.QA is a procedure-based methodology.QC is a product based methodology.QA is done before Quality Control.QC is done only after Quality Assurance.QA is to manage the quality.QC is to verify the quality.QA is responsible for full Software Development Life Cycle.QC is responsible for Software Testing Life Cycle.All the team members are responsible for QA.Mostly only testing is responsible for QC.QA doesn’t involve in executing the tests.QC involves in executing the tests.QA is the process where weaknesses are identified early in the process.QC is the process where weaknesses are identified after product is delivered in other words in the production environment.Quality Assurance works its way toward software development by improving quality of the product under development.Quality Control is the arrangement of strategies used to confirm the quality of the end product been delivered.QA is to a higher degree an extensive action wherein setting up long haul great quality administration frameworks – and surveying that those frameworks assist us with adjusting to the client prerequisites – is finished. In this manner, QA is process-focused.QC is more a product related procedure wherein we’ll make sure that client’s prerequisites are consistently met. In this way, QC is a product focused.QA focuses on implementing procedures in such a way that defects are preventing from arising.QC focuses on implementing procedure in order to find more defects from current running system and eventually fix them hence improving quality.Besides comparison purposes, QA involves human auditing of findings or records, such as quality plans or test plans.QC is generally performed using techniques for traditionally operating the software or scripting, only a quick timeframe later determining if the system is working as per expectations.The statistical technique applied on QA is known as Statistical Process Control (SPC).The statistical technique applied to QC is known as Statistical Quality Control (SQC).QA is a Low-Level Activity that is less time consuming.QC is a High-Level Activity that is more time cosuming.WRT software, QA becomes Software Quality Assurance (SQA).WRT software, QC becomes Software Testing.

QA Vs QC Infographic:

Real-life example of quality control and quality assurance process

QA Example:

When we start working on a new project we may face some difficulties especially when we work with new technology. To work smoothly we need to have some plan to make our team members trained in the new technology.

We need to collect design documents, technical and functional requirements documents, etc., to share with the team to get acquainted with the new technology and these documentation will be helpful to the newcomers in the team.

A test strategy will be prepared to cover all risks that may occur in the end product and ensure the project is not developing any risks.

This process comes under the QA process.

QC will start after QA is finished. So we have to make sure that the QA process prevents as many defects as possible. We know that the cost of fixing a bug or defect is lower if you catch it early

QA aims to prevent issues.

QC Example:

The team follows documentation prepared in the QA process. Now when the team is working on the product to make sure it is working as expected or not and found any defects. Then the team must report the defects to fix them to make the quality product.
This process comes under the QC process.

QC aims to detect issues.

Conclusion:

Both QA and QC make the product defect-free and ensure that it meets client expectations and needs. 

Despite the fact that the target of the two procedures is the equivalent, the methodology used to accomplish the goal is obviously unique.

All in all, an equivalent spotlight on both QA and QC will ensure a better quality product.

It is further believed that quality is a never-ending process, as you increase quality, it will increase the production plus it will create a good impact, and decreases the cost.

We discussed the quality assurance, quality control, and quality management which has the objective is to effectively lead and implement the quality system with inspection activities which gives the ensured of industry standards, clients specifications, and quantity standards.

So that the quality is very important to be successful in the organization which can be achieved through quality management.

An approach will lead to achieving the goals that focus on quality and control should be practiced in the organization rigorously.

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