Quality Assurance (QA) is defined as an activity to ensure that an organization is providing the best possible product or service to customers. QA focuses on improving the processes to deliver Quality Products to the customer. An organization has to ensure, that processes are efficient and effective as per the quality standards defined for software products. Quality Assurance is popularly known as QA Testing
Best practices for Quality Assurance:
- Create a Robust Testing Environment
- Select release criteria carefully
- Apply automated testing to high-risk areas to save money. It helps to fasten the entire process.
- Allocate Time Appropriately for each process
- It is important to prioritize bugs fixes based on software usage
- Form dedicated security and performance testing team
- Simulate customer accounts similar to a production environment
Quality Assurance Functions:
There are 5 primary Quality Assurance Functions:
- Technology transfer: This function involves getting a product design document as well as trial and error data and its evaluation. The documents are distributed, checked and approved
- Validation: Here validation master plan for the entire system is prepared. Approval of test criteria for validating product and process is set. Resource planning for execution of a validation plan is done.
- Documentation: This function controls the distribution and archiving of documents. Any change in a document is made by adopting the proper change control procedure. Approval of all types of documents.
- Assuring Quality of products
- Quality improvement plans
Quality Assurance Certifications:
There are several certifications available in the industry to ensure that Organizations follow Standards Quality Processes. Customers make this as qualifying criteria while selecting a software vendor.