What is meant by "quality assurance"?

The term "quality assurance" refers to a proactive process aimed at ensuring that quality standards are met throughout the production or service delivery process, before the product or service reaches the customer. This involves the systematic activities and planned processes in place to prevent defects, establish and maintain quality standards, and provide confidence that these standards will be achieved consistently.

Quality assurance is crucial because it focuses on building a framework that supports quality practices, such as regular audits, training, and adherence to established procedures. By emphasizing prevention rather than detection, organizations can reduce the likelihood of issues arising and enhance customer satisfaction.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the principles of quality assurance. A reactive approach focuses on addressing issues after they arise, which is more characteristic of quality control. Evaluating employee performance is related to human resources rather than directly concerned with product or service quality. Increasing production capacity, while important for business operations, does not inherently relate to ensuring or maintaining quality standards. Thus, the emphasis on a proactive approach in quality assurance sets it apart from these other concepts.