Difference between QA and QC

QA department develops all the planning processes and procedures in order to try to make sure that the products manufactured or the service delivered by the organization will be of good quality.

As some process parameters cannot be controlled, QC department checks the products or services for defects that happen due to these parameters, trying to achieve the overall QC objective of providing a defect-free product or service to the customers.

QA defines the standards/methodology to be followed in order to meet the customer requirements. *

QC ensures that the defined standards are followed at every step.*

* This is done by conducting various tests and checks. Based on them, the QC prepares regular reports that act as an input to the QA department which then reviews the same and decides on the corrective and preventive actions required in the processes.

In general, the QA activities are done before the product is manufactured or the service delivered (proactive approach).

The QC activities are done during the manufacturing process and once the product is manufactured.

QA is process oriented.

QC is product oriented.

QA makes sure you are doing the right things, the right way.

QC makes sure the results of what you’ve done are what you expected.

QA tasks are conducted by managers, third party auditors, and customers. *

QC tasks are executed by experts who are directly involved with the design, or manufacture of a product on the shop floor such as engineers, inspectors, etc. *

– A QA audit would focus on the process elements of a project. e.g.: Are requirements being defined at the proper level of detail?
– Process documentation
– Establishing standards
– Developing checklists
– Conducting internal audits

– A QC review will focus on product elements. e.g.: Are the defined requirements the right requirements?
– Performing inspections
– Preforming testing

– QC detected a recurrent problem with the quality of the products. QC provides feedback to QA personnel that there is a problem in the process or system that is causing product quality problems. QA determines the root cause of the problem and then brings changes to the process to ensure that there are no quality issues in future.