28/12/2004 

Quality Control could be defined as the way in which quality in a product is guaranteed. During manufacture there are many stages where the item being manufactured could be damaged or some part of its construction not be done well. The stages of the manufacturing process are therefore usually well planned so that the critical points of production can be analysed allowing the item to be checked at those points.

Quality Assurance is based on the simple principle that if a product is to be sold and the manufacturer is to retain its credibility - and above all its customers' confidence - then the goods it makes must be of a sound quality and fulfil the purpose for which they had been designed.  This fitness for purpose is really a key to judging whether Quality assurance has been maintained.  The UK control specification is defined within an international specification for management systems in production processes - ISO 9000 - and to obtain the Quality assurance mark ; in Britain the 'Kitemark', then this guide must be followed.  Only a few moments thought will show that the process of planning goes all the way back to the design stage and the selection of materials.

It should be easy to see therefore that Quality Assurance is the result of careful planning and structuring of the processes needed to ensure customers are satisfied with the product, whatever that may be, whilst Quality Control is the means by which a company will actually achieve their goal of QA.   

ISO 9000 was developed in the engineering sector to ensure effective systems of producing goods and came from the earlier BS 5750 that was developed in 1979.  For QA and QC to be seen in your project then some thought must be given at quite an early stage to identify critical points in both the design and production of your practical work.

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