Quality assurance and quality control are two important concepts in manufacturing, engineering, and many other industries. While they are related, there is a distinct difference between the two.

Quality assurance (QA) is the process of ensuring that a product or service meets a certain level of quality. This involves creating and implementing processes and procedures that will prevent defects or issues from arising in the first place. Quality assurance is focused on preventing problems before they occur.

Quality control (QC), on the other hand, is the process of identifying defects or issues in a product or service after it has been produced. This involves inspecting and testing the product to ensure that it meets the required specifications. Quality control is focused on identifying and correcting problems after they have occurred.