Quality Assurance (QA) is considered by many implementers to consist of testing, and documenting results to ensure that a new system application performs according to the requirements definition document. A properly conducted Quality Assurance is a process that includes understanding the customer and their expectations of system performance.

Ensuring that a system will work when delivered requires a disciplined and structured approach. First, it requires defining success and then structuring the tasks and activities necessary to instill confidence that the new system meets requirements and expectations. Quality Assurance is performed through all stages of the project, not just performed prior to production. QA is a set of processes that are applied from initial testing through post implementation reviews. QA is an integral part of the application.

Consilium has developed a QA process that is built from the following areas:

• Quality control - Monitoring the system to ensure requirements are met.
• Verification - Evaluation of each system module to ensure that it functions properly with the rest of the system.
• Validation - Evaluating the entire system to ensure it meets user requirements.
• Mentoring - Extending the principles of system measurement and evaluation to the customer IT staff.

Consilium works closely with clients to develop business processes that address the difference between software testing and QA. Finding and fixing software problems is not QA. Knowing enough to have a process of looking for problems is QA.