Quality Assurance vs Quality Control

Managing quality involves developing a system that takes a deep look at the processes of both quality assurance and quality control. The two concepts involved are indeed related, but they have different definitions that help explain how effective quality management can be to your industry. 

When comparing quality assurance vs quality control, you might incorrectly assume that they mean the same thing, but one is really a subset of the other. Quality assurance refers to providing the confidence that quality requirements will be fulfilled, while quality control actually focuses on fulfilling those quality requirements.

Another difference between the two is that quality assurance is more proactive, whereas quality control is more reactive. Quality assurance looks into the design process and ensures that a safe and effective product is made every time. Quality control then involves the actual product testing to prove that the standards of safety and efficacy were followed. 

Take another look at the steps that are involved leading up to production. Documentation, audits, supply management and training are all parts of the quality assurance process. This again refers to how quality assurance is more proactive. The creation of not only the product itself, but also the methods involved all come from the early stages of quality assurance.

Follow the process toward the end and you will see stages such as batch inspection, sampling, and multiple methods of testing. The raw materials and physical results are the focus when it comes to quality control. Each of these are a reactive process to the parts and less so to the system involved earlier on. It also means the verification of quality that the product has had a successful manufacturing run, and has confirmed that it is ready to roll out onto the market.

Quality assurance and quality control do have some overlap, but their main focuses remain separated. The two different systems are required for two different stages of the manufacturing process that help bring about a more successful product. For more information on quality assurance and quality control, call Cybergear today at (586) 531-7116. 

Because our mission is to help our clients improve, we treat your capital as if it were our own. By combining lean and factory physics concepts with digital manufacturing, Cybergear helps manufacturers remain adaptable in a constantly changing industry by increasing quality, efficiency, and ultimately—profits.