Quality Assurance for Businesses: An Explanation
No business can deny the significance of Quality Assurance (QA) and the boost it gives them in the market. The idea of QA was first started as a practice in manufacturing enterprises, and has gradually become a necessary goal for businesses in all sectors, includingInformation Technology (IT).
What does Quality Assurance certification mean for businesses?
Definition of QA:
According to experts, “Quality assurance is the systematic way to determine whether the products or services of a company meet quality standards and satisfy customer expectations.”
QA is designed to make customers happy and build trust between them and the company’s products or services. In simple words, it raises the credibility of the company.
What steps are involved in the Quality Assurance process?
QA involves a definite series of steps that a company should follow for every product, service, or process to ensure they meet quality standards.
These steps are:
- Planning- The company should plan and figure out measures that will help them deliver products or services of great quality.
- Testing- Testing products and, services, as well as the business process, to identify any quality issues is an important step. After testing, the company is also required to modify the products, services, and processes to help them meet quality standard.
- Monitoring- This step in the QA process assures that the company meets its defined objectives and quality standards. The company needs to have a dedicated team to monitor the processes of production, and modify them when needed.
- Implementation- The effective implementation of actions that will further enhance the quality of business processes and its products.
How Quality Assurance differs from Quality Control (QC)
While many people consider Quality Assurance and Quality Control as the same thing, we will tell you the exact difference between the two.
QC is a simple process for examining the final products or services of a company. In contrast to that, QA implies examining the products or services and consequently making immediate changes in the business processes to deliver products or services that satisfy quality standards.
Thus, QA is a more extensive process for a company to assure the quality of its products or services.
Some of the best practices known for QA
To increase the quality of products or services, implement these practices:
- Formulate a custom testing procedure,
- Carefully choose criteria for final product release,
- Put automated testing tools into processes with high quality risks,
- Follow effective time management and specify the time for each process,
- Build a separate team for testing and monitoring,
- Understand customer purchase behavior and product expectations.
Key Certification for Quality Assurance: ISO 9001
While there are numerous ways businesses seek quality assurance for their processes and products, the most sought-out and globally recognized standard for QA is ISO 9001 certification.
It is considered the most reliable standard today because it assists businesses to consistently meet every expectation or demand of customers. ISO 9001 certification prove to customers that every process is committed to adding value to their lives, and quality is a top priority.
Final Takeaway
Businesses that adopt a quality assurance system are able to enjoy many advantages and become more competitive in the market. ISO certification is the most prominent standard still existing today for QA, and it’s recommended that to adopt it for any business in any industry. To achieve quality assurance certification with the ISO 9001 standard, hire quality assurance consultants from a reliable agency.