Reply #40: You got it. QA is not QC or testing. [View All]

[TahitiNut]

QA is about the engineering process and ensuring that the process identifies and achieves the functional goals. It's not about testing, per se, but IS about ensuring that disciplined tests (independent assessments) are performed to verify the function performs as required. The key (buzz-)words are "verification and validation" and the letter "V" is often used to graphically depict the matching analysis and synthesis (two arms of the "V") which, when performed and managed properly, will guarantee that the product is exactly what's desired.

I fought the educational battle for years before ISO-9000 and even before "structured" approaches and even before the "TQM" days. The absolutely FACT of the matter is that the product WILL accurately represent the process. If the process is flawed, then the product if flawed. There's not a damned thing in the product that's not the direct result of the process. If the process is performed correctly, the product will be exactly what's desired.