qualityassure

Qualityassure is a term that is sometimes used as a brand name or shorthand for quality assurance. Quality assurance (QA) refers to the systematic activities and processes designed to ensure that a product or service meets defined requirements and customer expectations. The concept emphasizes preventing defects through planned and systematic actions across the development or production life cycle.

Core QA activities include defining quality policies and objectives, establishing and documenting processes, conducting design and process reviews, performing audits, and coordinating testing and verification. QA also encompasses measurement and improvement activities such as monitoring process performance, implementing corrective actions, and fostering continuous improvement.

Quality assurance differs from quality control, which focuses on identifying and correcting defects in finished outputs. QA is process-oriented, aiming to improve the production or development process itself to prevent defects from arising. In software contexts, QA covers requirements validation, process compliance, test planning, test execution, and defect management, while traditional quality control involves inspecting code, builds, or products. In manufacturing and service industries, QA includes supplier quality management, process capability studies, and adherence to standards.

Standards and frameworks commonly referenced in QA include ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 25010, CMMI, and Six Sigma. Tools used in QA range from process dashboards and audit checklists to test management systems and defect trackers. Emerging trends include shift-left testing, automated testing, continuous integration, and AI-assisted testing.