What is meant by the term 'quality assurance'?

Quality assurance refers to the systematic processes and activities designed to ensure that quality requirements are consistently met throughout all phases of production or service delivery. The core principle of quality assurance is a proactive approach; it focuses on prevention rather than correction. By establishing processes that promote quality from the outset, organizations can ensure that products or services meet or exceed customer expectations consistently.

In practice, quality assurance involves planning, implementing, and reviewing procedures and standards to create a quality management system that encompasses the entire operational process. This integrated approach helps in minimizing the likelihood of defects and enhances overall efficiency, reliability, and customer satisfaction. By focusing on processes as a whole rather than just inspecting end products for defects, quality assurance leads to sustainable improvements in quality.