A systematic process to ensure that manufacturing products meet specified quality requirements.
Quality Assurance (QA) is a proactive process focused on preventing defects in manufactured products by establishing process standards and systematically monitoring production. It involves the implementation of regulatory compliance and continuous improvement techniques to maintain the quality of the product and production processes. QA is critical in manufacturing settings to ensure product reliability and to prevent costly rework or customer complaints through stringent adherence to quality standards.
A manufacturing plant produces automotive parts with a defect rate of less than 0.01%.
Commonly applied during the final inspection phase, QA in this context involves setting up in-line testing equipment that measures parts against tolerance specifications.
In the electronics industry, QA systems analyze printed circuit boards to ensure each resistor is within ±0.1% of its specified resistance value.
Used during component assembly, QA ensures that all components function correctly under operational conditions, employing automated optical inspection (AOI) systems.