Are Quality Control and Quality Assurance The Same
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Most people use the two terms synonymously to refer to the same concept. While on the face of it, it sounds okay but in effect, this is an incorrect tendency that points at an inadequate understanding of quality management systems and processes.
Here is the explanation of the two quality processes, their differences and the importance of understanding these differences.
All About Quality Control
Definition
Quality control is a failure detection system that uses a testing technique to identify errors or flaws in products and tests the end products at specified intervals.
The main issue of using this system is that if the products are not subject to tests at regular intervals, the cost of tests will outweigh the benefits to the company.
Processes
Quality control and assurance feature entirely different tasks. The processes of quality control involve calibration, sampling and documenting reviews.
Who Does The Job
Quality control tasks are usually carried out by experts who are directly involved with the design, research or manufacture of a product. A quality monitoring professional just has to report to his department – no further.
Functions Of Quality Control Software
With a web-based system, quality control software helps automate all electronic tests and checks. Such checks include automatic distribution of training exams, customer complaint documentation and record keeping of documents or electronic forms related to QC and QA processes.
All About Assurance of Quality
Definition
Assurance of quality is a failure prevention system that predicts almost everything about product safety, quality standards and legality that could possibly go wrong and then takes steps to control and prevent flawed products or services from reaching the advanced stages of the supply chain.
Processes
Quality guarantee processes involve implementing real-time quality checks in every department of the company like designing, research, manufacturing and marketing.
Who Does The Job
Unlike quality control tests, assurance of quality tests are conducted by third party quality monitoring companies or corporate administrators. This is a major difference between quality control and quality assurance .
Functions Of Quality Check Software
Quality software offers tracking and analytics features. The most important requirement of quality monitoring software is the flexibility to be customized according to the specific needs of the client.
Distinguishing Quality Control From Assurance
It is very necessary to treat quality control activities as different from the tasks of assurance of quality due to the following reasons
- A product that is subject to regular quality control checks will not be entirely successful if the assurance processes that monitor the tests are not efficient.
- Another important fact is that QC and QA tasks must not be assigned to the same person. Since the activities of quality monitoring maintains a smooth progress of quality control functions, delegating these two jobs to one person will result in a conflict of interest.
- It is often found that while some companies concentrate more on quality control, others focus mainly on assurance of quality. For efficient running and quality products, both these processes must be subject to proper evaluation and management.
To ensure a solid foundation for a well-managed and regulated company, it is essential to understand why it is important to implement quality control and quality assurance activities and how these activities can be successfully accomplished.
Disclamer: This entry is intended to promote our partner StorageMart and some or all participants received compensation.
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