MT - 20 - QA and QC

Quality Assurance (QA): A set of planned and systematic activities designed to ensure that the development and/or maintenance process is adequate to ensure a system will meet its objectives.The function of software quality that assures that the standards, processes, and procedures are appropriate for the project and are correctly implemented. When Statistical tools and techniques are applied to processes (process inputs & operational parameters), they are called Statistical Process Control (SPC) & it becomes the part of Quality Assurance.It is basically on the project side.

Quality Control (QC): The function of software quality that checks that the project follows its standards, processes, and procedures, and that the project produces the required internal and external (deliverable) products. When statistical tools & techniques are applied to finished products (process outputs), they are called as Statistical Quality Control (SQC) & comes under Quality Control.It is on the product side.

Differences                  

Quality Assurance	Quality Control
Quality Assurance is a part of quality management process which concentrate on  providing confidence that quality requirements will be fulfilled	Quality Control is a part of quality management process which concentrates on fulfilling the quality requirements on the end product.
Quality Assurance is a set of activities for ensuring quality in the processes by which products are developed.	Quality Control is a set of activities for ensuring quality in products. The activities focus on identifying defects in the actual products produced.
Quality Assurance is the process of managing for quality;	Quality Control is used to verify the quality of the output
The goal of Quality Assurance is to prevent introducing defects in the software application which help to improve the development and testing processes.	The goal of Quality Control is to identify the defects in the software application after it is developed.
QA is Pro-active means it identifies weaknesses in the processes.	QC is Reactive means it identifies the defects and also corrects the defects or bugs also.
QA tracks the outcomes and adjusts the process to meet the expectation.	QC finds the defects and suggests improvements.
All peoples who are involved in the developing software application as responsible for the quality assurance.	Testing team is responsible for Quality control.
Quality Assurance is process oriented	Quality Control is product oriented
Quality Assurance basically aim to prevention of defects to improve the quality.	Quality Control basically aim to detection of defects to improve the quality.
It identifies weakness in processes to improve them.	It identifies defects to be fixed.
It checks that correct product is being prepared	It checks that the product prepared is correct
It is a staff function.	It is a line function.
It is done before Quality Control.	It is done only after Quality Assurance activity is completed.
Quality Assurance means Planning done for doing a process.	Quality Control Means Action has taken on the process by execute them.