Quality Assurance VS Quality Control

Quality processes play a huge role in determining a company or organization’s growth. Businesses that want to survive the rapid market growth need to ensure product uniformity across all stages. This is one of the best ways to attract loyal customers and gain market trust. It also helps build a long-standing relationship between businesses and their stakeholders and partners. All these are done using quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) techniques.

Quality assurance and quality control are two concepts often used interchangeably. However, they both work towards ensuring customer and company satisfaction. They are also implemented following regulatory standards. Nevertheless, a company that wants to stand out must understand quality control vs quality assurance.

Quality Assurance Vs. Quality Control – Overview

Quality assurance is used during product development to confirm the materials are ready for production. It is an aspect of the quality management plan that involves a team of experts. The team will work together to confirm if a product meets the standard or quality. The set standard depends on the sector. For example, ISO 25010 works for technical measures, and HIPAA works for companies within the health industry.

Quality assurance is also a continuous act that should be implemented at every production stage. Thus, it incorporates customer feedback into its framework to identify if the preferences have changed. It also involves configuration management, code review, prototyping, continuous integration, and test planning and execution. Thus, quality assurance is broad, and it takes a professional to get it done effectively.

Quality control is an aspect of quality assurance. It ensures the final product meets the standard requirements and addresses any defects. Quality control can also be carried out in several ways, including a sample check, where only a particular portion of the products are tested. More so, a quality control inspector ensures rest production quality in the most time-saving way.

Similarities Between Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Quality control vs quality assurance analysis is incomplete without stating the similarities. Both processes do not compete with one another but aim to achieve the same goal and objective. As mentioned earlier, the goal is to see customers and companies happy.

Ensures a High-Quality Product

Quality assurance ensures companies meet suitable standards by employing the right production strategies. Companies can cut production costs by implementing QA and QC without compromising quality. Quality control helps identify production, packaging, and shipping errors during a sample check.

Cost and Time Demanding

Time management is not just a trait in quality control inspectors but also an essential skill in quality assurance. Even though process control is time demanding, it saves up more time for the manufacturers. Thus, the extra time required to get it done is usually covered by the third-party inspector. Also, sensitive sectors, like health and beverages, may require additional modern equipment. However, it would help if you considered it an investment because it will pay off in the long run.

Follow Set Procedures

Quality assurance may require more details than quality control, but both follow a set procedure. These procedures will also vary based on the company’s policy and product type. Also, the methods are usually deliberated among the team. However, creativity is allowed, especially when dealing with UX testing techniques.

Identify Defects and the Cause

Having a defect in your product could reduce your market revenue and sales. It is worse when the products have reached the end consumers. Thus, QA involves policies for early defect identification, and QC measures the quality level of a developer’s development. Despite the differences in process layout. They both help you solve defect issues.

Differences Between Quality Assurance and Quality Control

It is understandable that quality control and quality assurance may overlap, considering that the former is a subset of the latter. Thus, people often mix the tasks that should be placed under one for the other. Before carrying out check examples, you should understand the fundamental differences discussed below.

Proactive Vs. Reactive

Quality assurance is considered proactive, while quality control is referred to as a reactive process. Quality assurance starts from the beginning and prevents any possible mistakes. On the other hand, quality control is used after the product is manufactured. Quality control examines the problem that may have surfaced during the manufacturing stage and recommends the proper solution. So, what happens when a product does not meet the standard requirement in quality control? The product will be prevented from being distributed or shipped to customers.

The results from quality control also reflect if quality assurance was done correctly. This is because a professional quality control inspector will always address the root cause of a problem. Thus, the team can identify an aspect of quality assurance to which they should have paid more attention.

Time of Operations

In examining quality control vs quality assurance, it is essential to specify the time of operations. Quality assurance runs through every developmental stage. It is a continuous process that needs regular updates and confirmations. Meanwhile, quality control operates when there is a product to work on. It can be used before a product reaches the end consumer or afterwards. Quality control is also used to test suppliers’ raw materials to ensure no defects in the supply chain system.

Quality Process Orientations

The focus of quality control and quality assurance differs, as the former is product-oriented, and the latter is process-oriented. QC considers customers’ preferences more, primarily when used after the products are manufactured. Examples of QC focus areas are; audits, change control, documentation, supplier management, investigation procedures, and personnel training. On the other hand, quality assurance focuses on laboratory, batch inspection, software, product sampling, and validation testing.

Creation Vs. Verification

Quality assurance is a creative approach, while quality control serves as verification. Quality assurance creates a road map that will be useful from the manufacturing stage to the sales stage. It eases the whole production process, as companies have a road map to working with. Meanwhile, quality control verifies if a manufacturer’s product is safe for consumers’ usage.

Work Responsibility

Since quality assurance is a broad concept, the entire team gets involved. Every lab testing and development team works closely together in quality assurance. It is also more capital and labour-intensive than quality control. If the quality assurance team achieves a great result, it takes little time for quality control to complete its task. Also, only some members of an establishment need to participate in quality control. Experienced personnel can be assigned to the job.

Industries Perspective of Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Some companies do not work with quality control processes because they have yet to test a final product. However, they indirectly use quality control in quality assurance, even for organizations that provide services. This applies when there are certain products needed to perform the required services. These products may include design, contracts, and reports; they could be tangible items like a rental car.

Research reveals that software companies also assume quality assurance as an audit and quality control as an inspection. Even though the inspection technique can be used while auditing, it does not determine the final state of the product. Quality control determines if a product will be accepted or rejected. Companies in the 1950s also employed quality assurance to expand quality inspections. This was more rampant in the health sector, considering the high-safety requirement of the job.

Which is More Important?

Both quality assurance and quality control are essential in promoting business growth. They both require specific testing processes that validate a product’s authenticity. They are also better off when used together and proven more effective. Below are the benefits of using these two processes in quality management plans.

  • It prevents rework and boosts workers’ confidence during production.
  • Reduces waste, which could surface as companies try to meet customers’ requirements at every cost.
  • The production team will be motivated to get involved in the job since they now have a clearer understanding of the intended objective.
  • Companies will get more referrals from satisfied clients or customers.
  • A growing business will understand its market better and can conveniently incorporate customer feedback.

The importance of combining quality control and quality assurance cannot be overemphasised. Thus, knowing the benefits of quality management in ensuring companies’ growth, the next step is to work with professional inspection companies.

Getting Started with a Professional Quality Control Inspector

If you are wondering about the best professional service, consider the EU Global Inspection Company. The company is known for its fantastic results in working with top companies, including Amazon e-commerce. Based on the company’s years of experience, the quality control team can identify suppliers’ tactics. The results from EU Global Inspection are also definite, addressing production issues or errors. You can also get updates on your production raw materials and possible new techniques. You can learn about EU Global Inspection operations online or contact customer service for more inquiries.


Post time: Dec-20-2022