Quality assurance

Ensuring, through continuous and periodic assessments and reviews, that the organization's quality objectives are met.

Guidelines:

Quality assurance provides assurance to internal and external stakeholders that quality requirements will be met.

Quality assurance can apply to any area where quality standards apply, including - but not limited to - products, data, services, and business processes.

Quality assurance findings and reports can serve as evidence and recommendations for quality improvement programs.

Quality Assurance: Level 3.

Facilitates the collection of evidence and conducts formal audits or performance reviews. Examines records for evidence that appropriate testing and other quality control activities have been performed. Determines compliance with organizational directives, standards, and procedures and identifies discrepancies, non-conformances, and anomalies.

Quality Assurance: Level 4

Plans, organizes, and conducts evaluation activities and determines if appropriate quality control has been applied. Conducts formal evaluations or reviews for specific areas, suppliers, or parts of the supply chain. Compares, collects and reviews records, analyzes evidence, and produces formal compliance reports in whole or in part. Identifies risks associated with findings and discrepancies and proposes corrective actions. Provides advice and guidance on the use of organizational standards.

Quality Assurance: level 5.

Plans, organizes, and conducts formal reviews and evaluations of complex areas, cross-functional areas, and the entire supply chain. Assesses, analyzes, and identifies nonconformances to organizational standards and determines underlying causes of nonconformance. Prepares and reports assessment results and associated risks. Ensures appropriate owners are identified for corrective actions. Identifies opportunities to improve organizational controls. Monitors assurance activities of others, providing advice and expertise to support assurance activities.

Quality Assurance: level 6.

Leads, develops, and is responsible for the organizational approach and commitment to quality assurance. Ensures that quality assurance processes and activities are robust and reliable and consistent with the organization's quality objectives. Plans and resourced organizational quality assurance activities using internal or outside resources. Reviews the implications of new technologies, approaches, trends, regulations, and legislation. Monitors and reports on quality assurance activities, compliance levels, and opportunities for improvement.