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When you are searching for issues about quality control, you may feel confused. Because sometimes you can see “quality assurance”. “quality control” and “quality assurance” sometimes are used in a mix. But actually, they are different and they shouldn’t be used with the same meaning.
What is Q Assurance (QA) ?
Quality assurance (QA) is the term used in both manufacturing and service industries to describe the systematic efforts taken to assure that the product(s) delivered to customer(s) meet with the contractual and other agreed upon performance, design, reliability, and maintainability expectations of that customer.
Quality assurance is to plan production activities & requirements and ensure these requirements will be fulfilled in the whole developing and manufacturing process.
Take a Cosmetic ingredient PQQ Powder production for example.
QA has to do watch research, evaluate PQQ Powder analyze PQQ sales and business, contact clients specific requirements, etc. During these processes, QA can foresee the potential problems PQQ Powder 99% haven’t yet happened to the PQQ. Then QA will pre-define the production processes and standards to prevent these problems.
What is Quality Control (QC)?
Despite the relative meaning of “value,” quality control is the process by which products/services are tested and measured to ensure they meet a standard. Through this process, a business can evaluate, maintain, and improve product quality.
Still take the Cosmetic ingredient PQQ Powder production for example.
QC inspect Cosmetic ingredient PQQ Powder have been produced. QC finds and rejects defective products, like PQQ Powder wrong color. These defective PQQ Powder will be asked to rework to ensure the goods shipped to you meet your requirements.
Quality Assurance (QA) V.S. Quality Control (QC)
To have a better distinguish between QA and QC, their differences can be roughly divided into the following points.
1. Different Focus
Focus: Quality control focuses on detecting and rectifying defects, whereas quality assurance emphasizes preventing defects in the first place.
Timing: Quality control is performed after production or service delivery, while quality assurance is integrated into the entire process from planning to execution.
2. Different Orientation
QA is process-oriented, and it focuses on preventing quality issues. QC is product-oriented and focused on identifying quality issues in manufactured products that could affect customer satisfaction.
3. Different Function
QA is process-oriented, and it focuses on preventing quality issues. QC is product-oriented and focused on identifying quality issues in manufactured products that could affect customer satisfaction. Another way to understand this distinction is actions vs. results.
4. Different Responsibility
QA involves the design of processes, such as documenting standard operating procedures (SOPs) according to ISO 9000 standards. A safe, effective product should be the result every time processes are followed. QC involves the testing of products to ensure they meet standards for safety and efficacy.
Differences Between Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Although we were quite general in our explanation of both terms, many still find them confusing when listing related tasks. Here are some activities involved in each concept so that you can learn to recognize the differences between QA and QC.
| Basis for Comparison | Quality Assurance | Quality Control |
| Meaning | Guarantees the preferred level of product quality is fulfilled at each process phase | Ensures the product quality aligns with the set standards |
| Approach | Proactive | Reactive |
| Focus | Process | Product |
| Concept | Prevents defects | Identifies defects |
| System | Prevention-based system | Correction-based system |
| Activity | Standards creation | Verification |
| Function | Staff function | Line function |
| Creation of Quality | Design stage | Control stage |
| Emphasis | Customer | Standard |
| Responsibility | Organization-wide | Team-wide |
| Development Stage | Throughout the development cycle | After the development and testing cycles |
| Focus | Provides assurance that quality will be achieved as requested | Fulfills the quality as requested |
| Techniques | Manages quality | Verifies quality |
| Program Execution | Not involved | Always involved |
| Deliverables | Creates the deliverables | Verifies the deliverables |
| Timeframe | Performed before QC | Performed after QA |
| Standards | Defines standards and methodologies for meeting customer requirements | Ensures all standards are followed while working on the product |
| Main motive is to prevent defects in the system, less time-consuming | Main motive is to identify defects or bugs in the system, more time-consuming | |
| Low-level activity, able to identify errors that QC cannot | High-level activity, able to identify errors that QA cannot | |
| Ensures you are doing the right things | Ensures the results of what you’ve done are as expected | |
| Responsible for the full software development lifecycle | Responsible for the software testing lifecycle | |
| Ensures everything is executed the right way (considered a verification activity) | Ensures actions taken are per the requirements (considered a validation activity) |
Benefits of Quality Assurance and Quality Control
QA and QC have the same main purposes, but their activities are performed at different stages—and each takes a unique approach. Both, however, are crucial and complementary. Here are some of the benefits of QA and QC:
- Deliver a high-quality output
- Eliminate waste
- Increase operational efficiency
- Provide customer satisfaction
- Ensure less rework and after-sale support
- Encourage a high level of confidence and a motivated team
If QA is Done, is QC Still Needed?
If you want to develop a completely new product, and your team has made the production plans and established standards in “QA”, how can you ensure all these pre-defined things can be followed correctly and completely throughout the life cycle of the project？
The answer is that QC is usually conducted after QA is done. QA is more like making laws and regulations to prevent people from crimes. While QC is like a policeman to catch criminals when the laws and regulations are violated.
If the pre-defined processes and standards are not followed, there will be some problems with the products. Then QC measures the products to find and correct the defects. Therefore, QC is still needed after QA to ensure product quality.
Additionally, not all procurement projects require QA, but almost all require QC. If you buy some common Biosynthesis, such as PQQ Powder. How to Find China Cosmetic Ingredient Manufacturers? or if you just do some simple customization (such as Cosmetic ingredients), then it is enough to let QC inspect the goods at different purchasing stages.
The short answer is: yes, quality control still needs to happen. Here’s why: Quality assurance doesn’t guarantee anything about the overall quality of the end product. The responsibility of quality assurance is to create solid processes and ensure that they are being followed.
Conclusion
We are a rich experience in factories from China. We can help you with quality control during each stage of importing. Sampling inspection and 100% inspection are both available. If you want to wholesale and customize cosmetic ingredient, feel free to CONTACT US.
I hope you can benefit from my post, and get the knowledge you need. If you think the post is helpful, welcome to share it with others. Besides, if you have any questions, feel free to share them with us by leaving a comment.
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