kvalitetssikrer

Kvalitetssikrer is the act of ensuring that products, services, or processes meet defined requirements and quality standards. In Norwegian usage, it can refer to the quality assurance process itself as well as to a person performing QA tasks (en kvalitetssikrer).

A kvalitetssikrer designs and implements quality management systems, defines quality plans, conducts audits, reviews requirements, coordinates testing and validation, tracks defects, and supports continuous improvement. The focus is on preventing defects by improving processes rather than only detecting defects after production.

QA is common in software development, manufacturing, healthcare, and public sector projects. In software, quality assurance encompasses test planning, process definition, and ensuring compliance with standards; in manufacturing and services, it often involves establishing procedures, supplier qualification, process audits, and corrective actions.

Quality management often relies on standards such as ISO 9001, and sector-specific norms (for example ISO 13485 for medical devices, IEC 62304 for medical device software, or ISO/IEC 27001 for information security). Quality assurance differs from quality control, which focuses on inspecting finished products; QA aims to improve the process to prevent issues.

Typical skills for a kvalitetssikrer include process modeling, risk assessment, statistical process control, requirements analysis, testing methodologies, documentation, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. Tools commonly used are test management systems, issue trackers, and dashboards for quality metrics.