What does quality assurance primarily focus on?

Quality assurance primarily focuses on preventing defects before products are produced by implementing systematic processes and standards throughout production. This proactive approach aims to improve overall product quality by identifying and addressing potential issues during the planning and development stages, before they become entrenched problems during production.

To achieve this, quality assurance involves the establishment of quality management systems, regular audits, and adherence to established procedures and standards. The goal is to foster a culture of quality within the organization, ensuring that processes are designed to minimize errors and defects, leading to higher customer satisfaction and reduced costs associated with rework and returns.

While aspects such as ensuring process efficiency, creating new products, and benchmarking against competitors are important in business practices, they do not encapsulate the fundamental aim of quality assurance, which is centered on defect prevention. This focus on preemptive measures distinguishes quality assurance from other functions, emphasizing proactive quality management as a critical component of successful production.