Quality Assurance (QA) is the activity of ensuring that a company provides the best possible product or service to the customer. QA is a systematic approach that oversees all phases of a product and prevents future mistakes. This systematic approach is a feedback loop that involves comparison with standards, monitoring of processes and mistake prevention.

The ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is a driving force behind QA practices and mapping the processes used to implement QA. Many companies use ISO 9000 to ensure that their quality assurance system is in place and effective.

QA helps a company create products and services that meet the needs, expectations and requirements of customers. It yields high-quality product offerings that build trust and loyalty with customers. The standards and procedures defined by a quality assurance program help prevent product defects before they arise.

Software quality assurance (SQA) systematically finds patterns and the actions needed to improve development cycles. SQA has become important for developers as a means of avoiding errors before they occur, saving development time and expenses. There have been numerous SQA strategies. Each development process seeks to optimize work efficiency.