Definition Quality Assurance (QA) vs. Quality Control (QC) - What are the differences?

Jim Wynne

Staff member
Admin
#11
Statistical Steven said:
Jim, you forgot what can a SSBB do that a CQE cannot :rolleyes:

Actually, there is a distinction in many different regulated industries where Quality Control is required to release a product, and quality systems are required to "audit" the inspection process. Due to conflict of interest, they cannot be the same person.
I understand. There are distinctions between the jobs that people do, but what names you give to the distinct varieties is irrelevant--it's the work that counts, not what you call the work, or the person who does it. These types of artificial distinctions help to buttress the walls between jobs and departments when we should be trying to break the walls down.

I read a few years ago about a small-business (~150 employees, iirc) owner who had business cards printed for all of his employees. The cards gave the person's name and underneath the name, the person's job title. Except that for the job title, everyone's card, from janitor to owner, said "Customer Service." That guy understood what's important.
 
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Jim Wynne

Staff member
Admin
#12
ralphsulser said:
Several years ago when I was being hired by a lagre company, the Vice President of Operations said they didn't know what to call me, Quality Control Manager, or Quality Assurance Manager.
I said how about just Quality Manager, and he liked that and settled on it.
:applause: I like it. I had job once in a company that had a policy stating that "managers" had to have college degrees. There was a bit of a crisis when they wanted me to have a "manager" job but wouldn't call me one because of no degree. The operations VP who was my boss said, "We don't know what to call you." I said, "Call me Jim, and tell me what you want done." They finally settled on "supervisor," and were afraid that I'd be offended, but I walked like a duck and quacked like a duck, and was fed the same stuff as the ducks were fed, so it didn't matter. I let the people who were hung on those types of superficialities go ahead and be hung up, and just did my job.
 
P

pthareja

#13
Statistical Steven said:
Actually, there is a distinction in many different regulated industries where Quality Control is required to release a product, and quality systems are required to "audit" the inspection process. Due to conflict of interest, they cannot be the same person.
Yes, these are different responsibilities.
Like Quality Control and Quality assurance are also different shoes, the organisation has to provide. The role of former is likely to showed near the gate and hold a stamp of 'Shipment allowed' if QA ( assurance personnel and auditor have done their job meticulously, the Deming way.

P Thareja
 

Jim Wynne

Staff member
Admin
#14
pthareja said:
Yes, these are different responsibilities.
Like Quality Control and Quality assurance are also different shoes, the organisation has to provide. The role of former is likely to showed near the gate and hold a stamp of 'Shipment allowed' if QA ( assurance personnel and auditor have done their job meticulously, the Deming way.

P Thareja
If "QA...have done their job...the Deming way," then the guy with the stamp isn't necessary.
 
P

pthareja

#15
So, You push him out of the gate! Hey!

As A Thought!

If quality assurance of processes is in Vain, it fails in intended-product-fitness to tame,
While all control processes seem as insane, and non conforming products in-situ remain,
Such organization will have no will to sustain, duly demotivated, fearing downing fame.
Leaves process operators et al all in pain, machine & material flow sequentially in strain.

Why subject system harmony to slain? Empower ‘Quality Assurance’ to remain in game!

2006, P Thareja
 
K

km214

#17
Re: Quality Assurance vs. Quality Control - What are the differences?

Just my two cents having worked in both. The key is in the term "control" vs. Assurance"
QC tends to be the overseer of production ensuring specifications are met through testing and analysis.
QA or "assurance meaning documented control of procedures, auditing...in essense assuring that the quality system is maintaining quality throughout the company..
Bigger scope than QC...QA is the proactive component driving process improvements and the final check in the QMS through auditing and compliance to stardards and/or regulations.
I think the related threads all say this in greater detail that can be utilized to present the explanation to those who do not "know" quality..
Thank You
 

Crusader

Trusted Information Resource
#18
Re: Quality Assurance vs. Quality Control - What are the differences?

tomjess said:
Please can someone settle a problem I have.

I have tried to explain to the guys at work the difference between Quality Assurance and Quality Control.

So with the amount of people using this forum I should get a good couple of replies that will shut them up for ever.

thanking everyone in advance.
I was just asked a similar question this past weekend by a friend of mine who really did not know what I do at my job. I had to explain it in terms he would understand because he knows nothing about quality management systems.

My reply.... I said that Quality Control checks the product we make and the components we buy from our suppliers. My task in Quality Assurance is to check the people to make sure they are following the company defined quality system instructions, procedures, etc.

The light clicked on at that point and he understood perfectly. :)
Hope that helps. :bigwave:
 

RoxaneB

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
#19
Re: Quality Assurance vs. Quality Control - What are the differences?

The June 2006 copy of "Quality Progress" has a nice representation explaining the roles, responsibilities and overlaps of these terms/positions. Scroll down to the article called "Core Roles in a Strategic Quality System" (by Ken Imler) and look at Figure 3.
 
I

ilukman

#20
Re: Quality Assurance vs. Quality Control - What are the differences?

Quality Assurance : focuses on processes, defect prevention
Quality Control : focuses on products, defect detection......
 
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