Quality assurance specialists are important contributors to the software development lifecycle. A newly developed software goes through many testing stages. Quality assurance analysts conduct many functional and non-functional tests. They conduct these tests according to the test needs. Formulating efficient software is impossible without the involvement of quality assurance experts.
Curious to know more about quality assurance? Want to learn the process, methods, and examples too? We are here to help you learn more. Let us get started!
Quality Assurance
Quality assurance is about monitoring the stages of a software development process. It is used to make sure that the company’s software is designed up to the needed standards. A quality assurance analyst ensures that the developers are meeting their deadlines. Also, if they are informing other developers if any problem arises in their code.
Use Of Quality Assurance
Quality assurance is used to identify the potential problems and bugs in the software. The QA analysts report these issues to other developers of the software. The QA analysts also:
- Create software test plans.
- Identify problems and bugs within the software.
- Formulate policies and set standards to ensure high-quality code.
- Identify the issues that users may experience.
- Code automated tests.
- Perform manual and automated testing.
- Track test outcomes.
- Document test cases.
Skills You Need For Quality Assurance
In the field of quality assurance, you need many skills. QA is a field of IT so you must be thinking that it values technical skills. There is nothing right about this thought. QA demands both technical as well as soft skills. The roles related to QA need to coordinate with other team members. This is the reason why they need many soft skills. Let us have a look at the top skills you will need to pursue a career in quality assurance.
1. Communication
QA analysts need to identify the issues and communicate them to developers to resolve them. For this purpose, the presentation and documentation of these issues must be clear. Their communication skills have to be easy to understand by the team members. If they are not able to communicate the issues, no action would be taken to fix them.
QA analysts should also be able to interact with non-technical professionals in the organization. They should communicate their ideas in easy and simple words. This will help them keep their project moving forward.
2. Critical Thinking
The role of QA specialists needs critical thinking skills. They have to find bugs and other issues that are not so obvious. They need to choose between different scenarios and test cases. Also, they may need to experiment with some scenarios and test cases to find the best fit. For this purpose, they use their critical thinking skills. To identify how different test cases will occur, they need to apply different mindsets. They also have to anticipate the customer response towards the product in hand.
3. Flexibility
The test approaches that QA engineers use may change from project to project. For this purpose, QA engineers must have the willingness and flexibility. In this way, they will be able to try distinct methods for software testing. As a QA engineer, you may need to reshape your plan to entertain new features. They also have to keep up with the ever-changing technology and innovation in the field.
1. Coding
QA testers do not have to be professional engineers as well. This is the reason the field is divided into separate roles based on their responsibilities. But it is useful that every role of QA knows the basics of coding languages. In this way, a QA tester will also be able to communicate with engineers and developers.
2. Time Management
To respond to market needs in time, software development needs a fast pivot. It increases the time for a product to market. To meet this need, every team member has to be fast and active at the same time. The most demanding job of a QA tester is to analyze a product in depth. Also without interrupting the timeline. This needs an edgy time management skill.
3. Analytical
A QA engineer needs to have strong analytical skills. It is their job to test every part of the system or product. They identify the weakness that could harm the quality of a system or product. As a result, the company will get poor customer response. QA engineers should be able to identify the strengths of a product. In this way, the development team can put more effort into it.
4. Attention To Details
QA engineers need to pay more attention to the details. We know that all systems may have bugs or issues. Companies hire QA testers to point out as many errors as possible. They must be able to detect any defect that can result in product failure. As a result, it can harm the productivity of your business.
5. Problem Solving
If you are not able to find any possible way out. Problem-solving skills help you to find suitable solutions. Using your problem-solving skills, you can meet the needed quality standards. By using logic, creativity, and critical thinking You can face all the challenges at work.
Process Of Quality Assurance
The whole process of quality assurance has to define the cycle called the PDCA cycle. Phases of this cycle are as follows:
- Plan
- Do
- Check
- Act
Plan
The organization should plan and establish process-related objectives. It should determine the process that is needed to deliver a high-quality end product.
Do
Process development and testing, as well as adjustments to the procedures.
Check
Monitoring of processes, modifying the methods and checking whether it meets the predetermined objectives.
Act
Implement actions that are necessary to achieve improvements in the process.
An organization must use quality assurance to ensure that the product is designed and implemented with correct procedures. This will help to reduce problems and errors in the final product.
Methods Of Quality Assurance
Now let us move on to the part that will do justice to you! The company runs the newly created software through various testing procedures. It uses several techniques so that the customer gets the right product for the money paid.
The list of methods used for software quality assurance is as follows:
1. Audit
Involves the inspection of the progress and the product. It determines whether the set of actions written in the original document is being followed or not!
2. Review
Process in which both developers and customers gather for a meeting:
- Examine the progress and product.
- Clients give their approval
- Comments
- Suggests for the implementation he wants in his product
3. Failure Testing:
It continually tests a product to determine if it breaks or fails. For physical products that need to withstand stress, this could involve testing the products under:
- Heat
- Pressure
- Vibration
For software products, failure testing might involve placing the software under high usage or load conditions.
4. Bug Detection
The professional and trained group of people go through a static set of tests. In this way, they find the bugs and defects in the project based on the rules and criteria of the project.
These inspections are kept confidential from the clients.
5. Design Inspection
Developers produce a list according to which they design software. The list examines the following areas of software design:
- General requirements and design
- Functional and interface specifications
- Conventions
- Requirement traceability
- Structures and interfaces
- Logic
- Performance
- Error handling and recovery
- Testability
- Extensibility
- Coupling and cohesion
6. Simulation
Simulation is a process of virtually examining the software. It does so by using the tools that develop real-time situations. This interesting method is used to assess the behavior of the software.
7. Statistical Process Control (SPC)
A methodology based on objective data and analysis. It was developed by Walter Shewhart at Western Electric Company and Bell Telephone Laboratories. It was developed in the 1920s and 1930s. This methodology uses statistical methods to manage and control product production.
8. Functional Testing
Also known as Black Box testing. It determines the features of the software. It gives insight into what the project does without inspecting how so.
9. Standardization
It releases the vagueness of the product. Thus, it gives a clear image of the quality of the software.
10. Static Scanning
It is the process of analyzing the software using automated tools. This method inspects automated tools to test the product without interfering with the product’s system.
11. Total Quality Management (TQM)
It applies quantitative methods as the basis for continuous improvement. TQM relies on facts, data, and analysis to support product planning and performance reviews.
12. Walkthroughs
Now the higher roles employees have been reporting to are given a job. Yes! They were not only involved in ordering around. They also had an essential share in the whole procedure.
They are given access to the project to:
- Examine the software.
- Raise their queries related to the product
- Develop the solutions to the defect, if any.
- Point out any errors and any other issues and suggestions.
13. Path Testing
Also known as a White Box testing technique. It tests out each command and path designed and installed in the software.
14. Stress Testing
In this method, it is inspected whether the project would break or collapse under the stressed environment. It is different from the conditions in which the system is designed and trained.
15. Six Sigma Quality Assurance
The sole purpose of using this technique is to elevate the quality and efficiency of the system. It builds up to 99.7% free from bugs, errors, and defects.
Examples Of Quality Assurance
1. Systems
An internet banking website has an availability of 98.7%. It is with individual pages that are as low as 93.4%. The target and industry standard is for the availability of 99.99%. Marketing teams complain that they are losing customers. The quality assurance team investigates the issue. They identify several lapses in service management processes and systems. They sponsor a program to address the issue.
2. Processes
Sometimes, quality assurance must take responsibility for processed information. If an employee accidentally processed data twice. They will need to:
- Contact the customers about the transaction issues.
- Fix the accounts.
- Compensate them.
If an order accidentally gets placed twice. It also needs to be amended to meet the necessary production requirements. Training individuals to complete data processing with minimal errors also qualifies as a QA responsibility. As long as the processed information gets a confirmation of getting through without mistakes. The workflow should run smoothly.
3. Manufacturing
Quality control samples at a headphone manufacturer indicate dropping sound quality. It indicated the quality dropping in every batch produced over the past 3 weeks. Quality assurance investigates and finds that the supplier has changed the materials in a part. They push the supplier to fix the problem.
4. Design
To provide convenience and satisfaction for customers. QA teams must consider how a product is designed for proper functionality. For a product to provide satisfaction to customers. It must have a functional and even aesthetically pleasing design.
For example, QA might need to investigate customer complaints noting a product safety hazard. Once the fixes are placed, QA issues a product recall to customers. Thye request that they pursue appropriate repairs or seek a replacement.
5. Security
QC typically ensures that security products meet their requirements or specifications. They ensure that the products work without error. If there is a defect with the security equipment, it will bring more security risks. While cybersecurity seems more like a task for IT teams. Quality control issues command for fixing the possible problems.
To counteract these situations, quality assurance offers defensive computer training. Training can ensure that everyone works with the same system smoothly. This type of training might include code reviews and performance testing.
Best Quality Assurance (QA) Training Offered By Wolf Careers
Wolf Careers Inc. offers training and placement services to our candidates. Our sessions are very interactive. Our team of industry-experienced experts and instructors provides exceptional training. You will learn the best practices of the industry along with advanced topics. We love to share knowledge with you. Through our training, we will guide you about tools access and technology. It will help in improving your technical standards. You will also engage in workshops, group discussions, and practice lessons.
We designed the opportunity of QA training and placement in the USA to offer knowledge, skills, and related tools and techniques. If you want to be a change-maker, you will need these things for sure.
Have a look at the range of QA courses we offer at Wolf Careers Inc.:
- Automation QA Training
- Manual QA Training
- QA Software Testing Training
- QA Tester Training
- ETL QA Training
- Quality Analyst Training
Enroll today in any of the above courses to avail this opportunity of QA training and placement in the USA.
