Quality assurance, or QA, is the planned system used to prevent defects by controlling how work is designed, approved and performed. In sourcing, QA covers the supplier processes that make consistent output possible.
How the control works
Define the standards, responsibilities, process controls, change approvals and records required before production begins. The buyer should connect these controls to the purchase specification and supplier quality agreement.
| Area | What the record should show |
|---|---|
| Control | Define the standards, responsibilities, process controls, change approvals and records required before production begins. The buyer should connect these controls to the purchase specification and supplier quality agreement. |
| Evidence | Retain approved procedures, training and calibration evidence, process audits, change records, performance trends and corrective actions. |
| Tradeoff | Inspection can find defects after they exist. QA deals with the conditions that create or prevent them. |
Evidence buyers should retain
Retain approved procedures, training and calibration evidence, process audits, change records, performance trends and corrective actions.
Where the term is misused
Inspection can find defects after they exist. QA deals with the conditions that create or prevent them.
Related definitions: quality control qc, supplier quality agreement, supplier audit.
