Quality Assurance vs Quality Control
According to the American Society for Quality (ASQ), the two terms are defined as:
Quality Assurance is the planned and systematic activities implemented in a quality system so that quality requirements for a product or service will be fulfilled, while Quality Control is the observation techniques and activities used to fulfill requirement for quality.
Comparison Chart of Quality Assurance and Quality Control
| Quality Assurance | Quality Control |
| Seeks to measure the processes and systems in order to reduce defective products | Seeks to measure the number of quality of the final products. |
| Often used by management to make decisions on process improvement | It is often used to accept or reject products, or for payment. |
| Focuses on preventing defects | Focuses on identifying defects |
| Managerial tool | Corrective tool |
| Process Oriented | Product oriented |
| Defines Standards | Ensures Standards are followed |
| Sets methodologies | Ensure methods are followed |
| Validation | Verification |
| Everybody’s responsibility | Specific Teams responsibility |
| Audit | Inspection |