Which is more process-oriented: Quality Control or Quality Assurance?

Quality Assurance is more process-oriented because it encompasses a range of activities designed to ensure that processes are designed and executed effectively to meet quality standards throughout the lifecycle of a product. This includes the establishment of methods, procedures, and standards that guide how processes are operated to prevent defects in the final product. Quality Assurance is proactive; it focuses on improving and ensuring the quality of processes to ultimately enhance product quality.

In contrast, Quality Control is often considered reactive and is focused on identifying defects in the finished product. While Quality Control involves monitoring and testing outputs to ensure that they meet specified quality criteria, it does not encompass the broader perspective of ensuring that processes themselves are sufficient to produce the desired quality. Thus, while both Quality Control and Quality Assurance play vital roles in quality management systems, Quality Assurance is fundamentally oriented toward the processes that lead to product development and quality.