{"id":7133,"date":"2023-07-19T19:02:05","date_gmt":"2023-07-19T19:02:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/durolabs.co\/?p=7133"},"modified":"2024-07-03T20:38:10","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T20:38:10","slug":"quality-assurance-vs-quality-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/durolabs.co\/blog\/quality-assurance-vs-quality-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Quality assurance vs. quality control: Understanding the differences"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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To ensure that your hardware products remain of high quality and valuable in the market, you should consider two critical processes: quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA). These\u00a0are imperative, especially in fields with rigid regulations and complex\u00a0manufacturing processes, such as aerospace, medical or\u00a0healthcare\u00a0technology<\/a>.<\/p>

Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they are distinct and serve different purposes for improving quality.\u00a0Below, we\u2019ll explore the similarities and differences between these two procedures and discuss their benefits.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is quality assurance (QA)?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Quality assurance\u00a0is a\u00a0proactive<\/i>\u00a0approach that encompasses the activities needed to ensure\u00a0quality standards\u00a0are met. It focuses on\u00a0preventing<\/i>\u00a0deviations and other defects<\/a>\u00a0before they have the chance to come up. QA often involves establishing quality objectives, conducting\u00a0audits, performing process reviews, and implementing preventive measures to identify and resolve potential issues proactively.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is quality control (QC)?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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While\u00a0quality assurance\u00a0is a\u00a0proactive\u00a0approach,\u00a0quality control\u00a0is more of a reactive way to test products\u00a0after<\/i>\u00a0they\u2019ve been produced. The\u00a0QC process\u00a0involves monitoring and testing the product along various stages of the development process to make sure it meets predetermined quality benchmarks.\u00a0<\/p>

For example,\u00a0quality control\u00a0can be used to spot-check or thoroughly test a final prototype before making the last improvements and going to market. If any defects are discovered during the\u00a0QC process,\u00a0corrective\u00a0action is taken to address the issues.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Who is responsible for quality assurance and quality control?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Quality assurance\u00a0requires a comprehensive approach with many important stakeholders involved.<\/p>

Senior leadership is responsible for overall product quality in the eyes of the public. Additionally, leadership teams are responsible for decision-making throughout the development process, and\u00a0team members\u00a0must uphold these standards during production, design, or customer interactions.<\/p>

However,\u00a0Auditors, Compliance, Quality teams, and inspectors have the primary responsibility for maintaining quality control at each stage of the product lifecycle.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Critical differences between quality assurance and quality control<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Quality control\u00a0and\u00a0quality assurance\u00a0go hand in hand and are primarily complementary functions. With this being said, here are the\u00a0key differences\u00a0that distinguish their roles:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Objective<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As touched on above,\u00a0quality assurance\u00a0focuses on preventing defects and ensuring adherence to\u00a0quality standards.\u00a0It involves\u00a0proactive\u00a0planning and implementation of procedures, and quality systems.\u00a0Quality control\u2019s objective is a\u00a0reactive process\u00a0and occurs after production to ensure the final output meets quality criteria.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Creation vs. verification<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cCreation\u201d describes\u00a0QA activities.\u00a0Quality assurance\u00a0aims to create or enhance methods, procedures, and processes based on observations and data-driven results.<\/p>

\u201cVerification\u201d is conducted in many\u00a0QC activities: inspecting, checking, and testing if the solution that has been implemented is indeed working as it should.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Long-term vs. short-term<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As you may have guessed,\u00a0quality assurance\u00a0is a long-term approach that betters the efficiency and effectiveness of your systems, resources, and\u00a0team members.<\/p>

It focuses on dynamic procedures that can be improved and adapted to the situation. Previously discovered defects (or possible vulnerabilities) are mitigated before they occur.<\/p>

QA involves the wisdom of experience and knowledge, and QC discovers errors and inefficiencies or resolves an issue in the short term. QC often feeds into further\u00a0quality assurance\u00a0efforts so that the discovered issue doesn\u2019t arise again.<\/p>

QC takes place after all\u00a0quality assurance\u00a0activities have been done to ensure that the product meets or exceeds specifications.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Preventive vs. corrective<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Quality assurance\u00a0tackles issues at their\u00a0root\u00a0and focuses on planning. A\u00a0quality management plan\u00a0often involves solutions implemented due to\u00a0quality assurance\u00a0activities and agreements between all relevant stakeholders.<\/p>

Quality control\u00a0is both a\u00a0corrective\u00a0and\u00a0reactive process. QC is used to correct issues from testing and can be either broad or specific. Once the issue is resolved, further analysis can be done so that it feeds\u00a0quality assurance\u00a0efforts to prevent this in the future.<\/p>

QC activities\u00a0are also reactive, meaning they takes on a \u201cfirefighting\u201d approach which usually occurs with product or software emergencies. For example, if issues weren\u2019t caught during\u00a0hardware prototyping and\u00a0testing, they\u2019ll require swift and professional\u00a0quality control\u00a0to resolve the issue. The goal is to maintain\u00a0customer satisfaction, while also preventing the issue from affecting other customers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Process vs. product<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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QA activities\u00a0are\u00a0process-oriented\u00a0and aim for\u00a0continuous improvement\u00a0in regard to your organization\u2019s activities, standards, and protocols. Creating templates and implementing\u00a0quality management\u00a0solutions are some primary examples.<\/p>

QC is extremely\u00a0product-oriented\u00a0and focuses on specifics. Regardless of the processes you have put in place, stakeholders in the\u00a0quality control\u00a0environment check if all promises have been delivered and all regulations have been followed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Risk reduction vs. defect identification<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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QA aims to reduce overall risk by having standards and procedures to prevent errors, defects, and inefficiencies.\u00a0<\/p>

Some regulators also require you to have robust\u00a0quality assurance\u00a0standards in place long before the\u00a0product development<\/a>\u00a0process can begin. This reduces risk to the regulators and customers and avoids fines and penalties for non-conformance.<\/p>

Quality control\u2019s primary function is defect identification of the product, and the subsequent data is then used to improve\u00a0quality management plans.<\/p>

It\u2019s important to note that you cannot rely on\u00a0quality control\u00a0alone to mitigate risk \u2014 especially in complex industries such as aerospace and\u00a0healthcare\u00a0\u2014 as things can slip through the cracks and open you up to legal action.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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How QA and QC ensure product excellence together<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Now that we\u2019ve defined\u00a0quality assurance\u00a0and control, let\u2019s look at how they work together to achieve\u00a0quality management\u00a0standards.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ensuring product quality and reliability<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Quality assurance\u00a0systems and management foster a preventative and collaborative approach that ensures excellence at every stage of the development process, beginning with ideation. It provides product quality and reliability with frequent\u00a0touchpoints, milestones, and reviews<\/a>.<\/p>

Quality control\u00a0ties it together with inspections and\u00a0audits\u00a0on the product\u2019s performance, quality, and\u00a0conformance. It provides insights that can later be implemented into a thorough action plan.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Minimizing defects and customer complaints<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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If a proper\u00a0quality assurance\u00a0protocol is followed, defects and deviations will be mitigated or identified throughout the process. The earlier issues are found, the easier they should be to resolve.<\/p>

During a\u00a0quality control\u00a0inspection, your team can confirm that all processes are followed correctly and what can be done if there are deviations from the overall process. This comprehensive and complimentary approach reduces customer complaints due to product excellence, quality, and severe objections.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Meeting regulatory and industry standards<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Regulators often demand that you have proper\u00a0quality management systems\u00a0in place long before product inspection occurs.\u00a0Quality assurance\u00a0fosters a collaborative environment that employs the entire organization and makes them responsible for excellence.<\/p>

Inspections on the\u00a0finished product\u00a0are critical for\u00a0quality control. A\u00a0stringent\u00a0audit\u00a0and monitoring process is crucial so that the product meets or exceeds standards. Additionally, it minimizes or eliminates the possibility of a regulatory complaint or penalty.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Enhancing customer satisfaction and brand reputation<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A forward-looking benefit is that a\u00a0quality management\u00a0process with meticulous attention to detail and standardized methods will help you meet\u00a0customer requirements. A great product delivered on time and with great service bolsters your brand reputation and enhances your marketing efforts in the long run.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Streamline your quality assurance processes with Duro<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Both\u00a0quality assurance\u00a0and\u00a0quality control\u00a0are part of a robust\u00a0quality management\u00a0process. They help ensure your products exceed\u00a0customer expectations and\u00a0conform with regulatory practices.<\/p>

At Duro, our product\u00a0lifecycle\u00a0management (PLM) solution provides a single source of truth. It enables a collaborative environment to streamline your\u00a0product development\u00a0and quality processes. Our seamless CAD integrations empower you to share data across teams, enabling faster feedback and issue correction.<\/p>

Request a\u00a0free demo today<\/a> to learn how we can boost your efficiency, compliance, and collaboration.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

To ensure that your hardware products remain of high quality and valuable in the market, you should consider two critical processes: quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA). These\u00a0are imperative, especially in fields with rigid regulations and complex\u00a0manufacturing processes, such as aerospace, medical or\u00a0healthcare\u00a0technology. Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they are distinct and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7134,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"Learn how quality assurance and quality control processes ensure product excellence and customer satisfaction.","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[93],"tags":[],"resource-tag":[82],"class_list":["post-7133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","resource-tag-manufacturing"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/durolabs.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/durolabs.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/durolabs.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/durolabs.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/durolabs.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7133"}],"version-history":[{"count":102,"href":"https:\/\/durolabs.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7133\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13756,"href":"https:\/\/durolabs.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7133\/revisions\/13756"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/durolabs.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/durolabs.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/durolabs.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/durolabs.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7133"},{"taxonomy":"resource-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/durolabs.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/resource-tag?post=7133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}