The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

Quality assurance QUAS

Assuring, through ongoing and periodic assessments and reviews, that the organisation’s quality objectives are being met.

Revision notes

Updates for SFIA 9

  • Theme(s) influencing the updates for this skill: Making SFIA easier to consume (enhance readability/guidance/descriptions), Making SFIA easier to consume (new levels).
  • New level 2 added to support entry-level roles.
  • You can move to SFIA 9 when you are ready - SFIA 8 skill descriptions will still be available to use.
  • Previous SFIA assessments or skills mapping are not impacted by this change.

Guidance notes

Quality assurance provides confidence to internal and external stakeholders that quality requirements will be fulfilled.

Quality assurance provides confidence to internal and external stakeholders that quality requirements will be fulfilled. It may relate to any area where quality standards are applied, including products, data, services and business processes.

Activities may include, but are not limited to:

  • planning and conducting quality assessments and quality audits
  • reviewing processes, products and services against defined quality criteria
  • identifying and reporting on quality issues and non-conformances
  • recommending corrective actions and improvements
  • verifying the implementation and effectiveness of corrective actions
  • promoting quality awareness throughout the organisation.

Understanding the responsibility levels of this skill

Where lower levels are not defined...
  • Specific tasks and responsibilities are not defined because the skill requires a higher level of autonomy, influence, and complexity in decision-making than is typically expected at these levels. You can use the essence statements to understand the generic responsibilities associated with these levels.
Where higher levels are not defined...
  • Responsibilities and accountabilities are not defined because these higher levels involve strategic leadership and broader organisational influence that goes beyond the scope of this specific skill. See the essence statements.

Developing skills and demonstrating responsibilities related to this skill

The defined levels show the incremental progression in skills and responsibilities.

Where lower levels are not defined...

You can develop your knowledge and support others who do have responsibility in this area by:

  • Learning key concepts and principles related to this skill and its impact on your role
  • Performing related skills (see the related SFIA skills)
  • Supporting others who are performing higher level tasks and activities
Where higher levels are not defined...
  • You can progress by developing related skills which are better suited to higher levels of organisational leadership.

Show/hide extra descriptions and levels.

Levels of responsibility for this skill

2 3 4 5 6

Quality assurance: Level 2

Level 2 - Assist: Essence of the level: Provides assistance to others, works under routine supervision, and uses their discretion to address routine problems. Actively learns through training and on-the-job experiences.

Assists with quality assurance tasks under routine supervision.

Supports the collection of data and evidence related to quality assurance.

Assists in reviewing records to ensure compliance with quality standards.

Helps identify and report quality issues and discrepancies.

Quality assurance: Level 3

Level 3 - Apply: Essence of the level: Performs varied tasks, sometimes complex and non-routine, using standard methods and procedures. Works under general direction, exercises discretion, and manages own work within deadlines. Proactively enhances skills and impact in the workplace.

Contributes to the collection of evidence and the conduct of formal audits or reviews of activities.

Examines records for evidence that appropriate testing and other quality control activities have taken place.

Determines compliance with organisational directives, standards and procedures and identifies non-compliances, non-conformances and abnormal occurrences.

Quality assurance: Level 4

Level 4 - Enable: Essence of the level: Performs diverse complex activities, supports and guides others, delegates tasks when appropriate, works autonomously under general direction, and contributes expertise to deliver team objectives.

Plans, organises and conducts assessment activity and determines whether appropriate quality control has been applied.

Conducts formal assessments or reviews for given domain areas, suppliers or parts of the supply chain. Collates, collects and examines records, analyses the evidence and drafts all or part of formal compliance reports.

Determines the risks associated with findings and non-compliance and proposes corrective actions.

Provides advice and guidance in the use of organisational standards.

Quality assurance: Level 5

Level 5 - Ensure, advise: Essence of the level: Provides authoritative guidance in their field and works under broad direction. Accountable for delivering significant work outcomes, from analysis through execution to evaluation.

Plans, organises and conducts formal reviews and assessments of complex domains areas, cross-functional areas and across the supply chain.

Evaluates, appraises and identifies non-compliances with organisational standards and determines the underlying reasons for non-compliance.

Prepares and reports on assessment findings and associated risks. Ensures appropriate owners for corrective actions are identified. Identifies opportunities to improve organisational control mechanisms.

Oversees the assurance activities of others, providing advice and expertise to support assurance activity.

Quality assurance: Level 6

Level 6 - Initiate, influence: Essence of the level: Has significant organisational influence, makes high-level decisions, shapes policies, demonstrates leadership, promotes organisational collaboration, and accepts accountability in key areas.

Leads, develops and is accountable for an organisational approach and commitment to quality assurance.

Ensures quality assurance processes and activities are robust and reliable, and appropriately tailored to the organisation’s quality objectives. Plans and resources the organisational quality assurance activities, using internal or third-party resources.

Considers the implications of emerging technology, approaches, trends, regulations and legislation.

Monitors and reports on quality assurance activities, levels of compliance and improvement opportunities.

Keywords
New level Guidance notes