Cambridge O Level Business Studies · Syllabus 7115 · Operations Management
Quality Assurance
What is Quality Assurance?
A method of achieving quality by building it into every stage of the process, so that defects are prevented rather than detected. Employees work to agreed standards and procedures and take responsibility for checking their own work. It reduces waste and improves consistency, but requires training, a supportive culture and reliable processes, and it does not make defects impossible.
This definition is part of the Operations Management chapter in Cambridge O Level Business Studies.
Common mistakes with Quality Assurance
- “Quality control prevents defects.” Correction Quality control detects defects by inspection, usually after the waste has already been created. Quality assurance is the prevention system. Neither makes defects impossible.
Questions students ask about Quality Assurance
What is the difference between quality control and quality assurance?
Quality control detects defects by inspecting output, usually at the end of production or at set checkpoints, after the waste has already been created. Quality assurance builds quality into every stage of the process so that defects are prevented rather than detected, with employees working to agreed standards and checking their own work. Neither method makes defects impossible.