Department of Quality Assurance
Dr. Sarfaraz M. Kazi
Quality Assurance is a systematic process designed to ensure that products or services meet specified requirements and customer expectations. It focuses on preventing defects by improving the development and production processes.
Key Aspects of QA:
- Process-Oriented : QA is about establishing and following processes and standards to ensure quality is built into the product from the start.
- Preventive : It aims to identify and eliminate causes of defects before they occur, rather than just finding defects after they happen.
- Continuous Improvement : QA involves continuous monitoring, evaluation, and improvement of processes.
QA vs. Quality Control (QC):
- QA focuses on preventing defects through process improvements.
- QC is about identifying defects in the finished product through testing.
Common QA Activities:
- Defining quality standards and procedures
- Process documentation and audits
- Training and mentoring teams on quality practices
- Conducting reviews and inspections
- Root cause analysis of defects
- Implementing corrective actions and preventive measures
QA in Software Development:
In software, QA ensures that software meets functional and non-functional requirements. Typical QA activities include:
- Writing and reviewing test plans and cases
- Automated and manual testing
- Performance and security testing
- Bug tracking and reporting
- Regression testing
Benefits of QA:
- Higher customer satisfaction
- Reduced costs by catching defects early
- Improved product reliability and performance
- Better compliance with standards and regulations