What is Quality Assurance? Quality assurance | Definition of quality assurance

Quality Assurance Purpose

Quality Assurance serves the main two purposes –

1. To assure that all is well,  e.g the procedures are being followed, the process is performing normally, the product is fit for use.       

2. To provide an early warning that all is not well and some corrective action is required. 

Quality Assurance Definition | Meaning

QA has a variety of meanings and defined as follows:

Let’s first understand the meaning of “Quality” and “Assurance” separately.

“Quality” means Performance upon Expectations.

“Assurance”  means the act of giving confidence.

QA contains all those planned and systematic actions necessary to provide adequate confidence that a product or service will satisfy/fulfill given requirements for Quality.

QA’s goal is to prevent defects with a focus on the processes used to make the product. Therefore, it is a Proactive quality process.

Quality Assurance‘s goal is to improve development and test processes so that defects do not arise when the product is being developed.

QA means that Quality Control activities are conducted in a systematic manner. QA includes QC activities.

QA is Process-oriented – Establishing, monitoring, and controlling manufacturing processes to get the output of quality products.

QA is that what is planned and what is expected.

QA focuses on Defect prevention rather than defect identification/detection.

QA means the set of activities carried out as per planning and as per set standards to achieve expected/desired results in terms of output.

QA means preventing errors and defects during the manufacturing of products and ensuring the OK delivery of products and services to customers.

Quality Assurance main principles are – “Fit for purpose/use” and “First-time Right quality”.

Verification/Audit is an example of QA

Quality engineers of manufacturing industries generally assure the quality of the product by applying various statistical tools and techniques like Statistical Process Control, 7 QC Tools, and 8D problem-solving methodology.

In the competitive world, organizations are now focusing on the TQM, TPM, Six Sigma, 5S, and Lean Manufacturing best practices to assure the quality of products and services.

QA definition as per ISO 9001:2015

QA is part of a Quality Management System focused on providing confidence that quality requirements will be fulfilled.