How to implement quality assurance and testing across your organization
Build a comprehensive QA program that catches issues early, reduces defects, and maintains high standards across all outputs. Create testing protocols, automate where possible, and instill a culture where quality is everyone's responsibility.
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0 of 7 steps completedStep-by-Step Instructions
1 Step 1: Define quality standards and acceptance criteria
Step 1: Define quality standards and acceptance criteria
Establish clear, measurable quality standards for all products, services, and processes. Document what "good" looks like with specific acceptance criteria, performance benchmarks, and compliance requirements. Create quality checklists and rubrics that anyone can reference.
2 Step 2: Build a tiered testing strategy
Step 2: Build a tiered testing strategy
Implement multiple layers of testing: unit tests (individual components), integration tests (how parts work together), system tests (end-to-end workflows), and user acceptance tests (real-world scenarios). Automate what you can, manually test what you must.
3 Step 3: Set up automated testing infrastructure
Step 3: Set up automated testing infrastructure
Deploy continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines that automatically run tests on every code change. Configure test environments that mirror production. Set up automated alerts when tests fail or quality metrics decline.
4 Step 4: Implement defect tracking and root cause analysis
Step 4: Implement defect tracking and root cause analysis
Use issue tracking systems to log every defect with severity, reproduction steps, and impact. Conduct blameless root cause analysis for significant issues. Track defect trends to identify systemic quality problems and prioritize improvements.
5 Step 5: Create quality gates and review processes
Step 5: Create quality gates and review processes
Establish checkpoints where work must meet quality standards before progressing. Implement peer reviews, code reviews, and QA sign-offs. Define who can approve releases and under what conditions work is considered "done."
6 Step 6: Train teams on quality practices
Step 6: Train teams on quality practices
Educate everyone on quality standards, testing methodologies, and their role in maintaining quality. Teach test-driven development, exploratory testing techniques, and how to write effective test cases. Make quality training part of onboarding.
7 Step 7: Monitor quality metrics and improve continuously
Step 7: Monitor quality metrics and improve continuously
Track key quality indicators: defect density, test coverage, mean time to detection/resolution, customer-reported issues, and rework rates. Review metrics regularly with teams. Use data to identify improvement opportunities and measure progress over time.
