When most people think about Quality Assurance, they imagine the process of testing products before delivering it to the customer. In the Software Development Life Cycle, QA involves Verification and validation of the software product through code inspection, Functional testing, Regression testing, load testing Performance using the testing cases that assess user experience and more. In manufacturing, it requires acceptance sampling, error proofing, statistical process control, and stress testing, among other things. The goal in both cases is to produce a product that will meet and exceed customer expectations while minimizing variation and cost as much as possible.
QA is an essential part of the overall software development life cycle. Apart from running various kinds of tests on products, QA also helps to improve the functionalities and usability of the product so that the end user can easily leverage it. QA is essential for businesses because it plays a key role in accomplishing the expectations and demands of customers. Software Quality Assurance engineers are responsible for monitoring every phase of the software development process to ensure that the software adheres to the set requirements. They are also involved in planning and implementing strategies for quality management and testing. The software program might perform all functions as intended; but it may not necessarily be completely secure. If there is any weakness in its defenses, the product and users’ data could be compromised. A QA is the key person who is responsible for providing a stable and secure product to the client.
In the business world, reputation is vital, and so Quality Analysts play a very important role in maintaining it. Every customer or client wants quality in products and services because they are paying for it and if they find that the product or software is not working as advertised, then the company will end up losing its customers. In today’s tech world, the competition is so cut-throat that even a small dip in sales can make it difficult for a company to sustain in the competitive market. Faulty software can lead to hurried fixes which does not guarantee proper working in the future. So meticulous organization of quality assurance testing is needed from the beginning of the project to enable the company to operate smoothly and more productively.
“Quality Assurance is not a luxury, but a necessity when working in a competitive market.”
Why QA is an essential part of the software development life cycle:
Saves Time & Money: By the process of QA testing, you can find out any potential bugs or issues that might occur in the future. This will save a lot of time and effort after deploying.
Promotes Productivity: When you develop an application through the approach, you manage both the development and quality assurance of the product. This improves productivity and efficiency of a product.
For Business Reputation: It helps companies create products and services that meet the expectations and requirements of customers. It also helps to design high-quality product offerings that build trust with customers.
Leads to more long-term profit: If you are creating products that you will market or sell, then investing in QA will mean that you can sell your product at a higher rate.
“A GOOD QA EXPERT IS NOT THE ONE WHO KNOWS A HUNDRED DIFFERENT TYPES OF TESTING IN THEORY. IT IS THE ONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO USE THOSE THAT ARE REALLY ESSENTIAL TO THE PROJECT CORRECTLY.”