Which is first, QA or QC?

In the field of software development and quality management, there is often a debate about whether Quality Assurance (QA) or Quality Control (QC) should come first. Both are crucial components in ensuring the delivery of high-quality products, but they serve different purposes and follow different processes.

The Role of QA

Quality Assurance focuses on preventing defects and issues from occurring in the first place. It involves creating processes, guidelines, and standards that help ensure that every aspect of the development cycle is carried out correctly. QA professionals are responsible for setting up testing frameworks, defining test cases, and implementing automated testing procedures.

The Importance of QC

Quality Control, on the other hand, is focused on identifying and fixing defects after the product has been developed. It involves activities such as testing, reviewing, and inspecting the final product to check for any discrepancies, inconsistencies, or errors. QC professionals carry out manual and automated tests, do code reviews, and analyze the product's performance against specified requirements.

The Proper Sequence

While both QA and QC are essential for delivering high-quality products, it is crucial to establish the proper sequence between the two. In an ideal scenario, QA should come first before QC. The reason behind this is simple: prevention is better than cure. By investing efforts in preventing defects through QA practices, the need for extensive QC activities can be significantly reduced. This saves time, resources, and ensures more efficient software development cycles.