and

Overview.
As markets have become much more competitive quality has become widely regarded as a key ingredient for success in business. Today's business climate requires an exact interpretation of customer requirements coupled with effective and efficient processes to meet or exceed their requirements. Product or service quality is conformance with requirement, freedom from defects or contamination, or simply a degree of customer satisfaction.

ISO 9000 Definitions :

Quality Control :
The operational techniques and activities that are used to fulfil requirements for quality.

Quality Assurance :
All those planned and systematic activities implemented to provide adequate confidence that an entity will fulfil requirements for quality.

The Quality Control system is designed to :

Provide routine and consistent checks to ensure data integrity, correctness, and completeness. Identify and address errors and omissions. Document and archive inventory material and record all QC activities.

QC activities include general methods such as accuracy checks on data acquisition and calculations and the use of approved standardised procedures for calculations, measurements, estimating uncertainties, archiving information and reporting.

Quality Control.
Problem Identification Problem Analysis Problem Correction Feedback to QA.

Quality Control Tools:

Check Sheets. Histograms. Pareto Charts. Cause and Effect Diagram(Ishikawa / Fishbone Diagram) Scatter Diagram. Control Charts.

Quality Assurance is more than Just Testing.

Prevention-based systems which improve and maintain product and service quality, and increases productivity by placing the emphasis on product, service and process design. QA, during production uses Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Fool-Proofing techniques. QA involves all departments (eg. Design, Manufacturing, Sales and Service etc.)

Purpose of Quality assurance

To provide assurance to a customer on an agreed level of quality. To ensure that manufacturing and/or service standards are uniform. A commitment within an organization to the principal of consistently supplying with right quality product. Quality Assurance (QA) activities include a planned system of review procedures conducted by personnel not directly involved in the organizational process.

Quality Assurance Process.

vs.
Quality Control Based on Product. Reactive Process. Stress on Line Function. Finds Defect.
Examples : - Testing, Inspection, Checkpoint Review etc.

Quality Assurance Based on Process. Proactive Process. Stress on Staff Function. Prevents Defect.
Examples : - Quality Audit, Selection of Tools, Training etc.