Quality Assurance Plan

Organisation / programme: [Name] Owner: [Quality manager / QA lead] Date: [Date] Reviewers: [Names] Status: [Draft / Approved] Next review: [Date]

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1. Scope and quality objectives

[In 2–3 sentences: what work this plan governs (product line, service, department, programme), and the quality objectives it exists to achieve — for example, the defect rate, yield, or satisfaction level you are committed to reaching and sustaining.]

2. Standards and acceptance criteria

Standard	Source (external / customer / internal)	Acceptance criteria
[e.g., ISO 9001 clause]	External	[How conformance is demonstrated]
[e.g., Customer spec / tolerance]	Customer	[The specific, checkable condition]
[e.g., Internal checklist]	Internal	[What "good enough to ship" means]

3. QA activities and checkpoints

Stage / checkpoint	What is checked	Acceptance criteria	QA or QC	Owner	If it fails
[Input verification]	[Materials / requirements / data correct]	[Pass/fail rule]	QC	[Role]	[Hold / return to supplier]
[In-process check]	[Key in-progress quality attribute]	[Pass/fail rule]	QC	[Role]	[Rework / escalate]
[Process audit]	[Is the defined process being followed]	[Pass/fail rule]	QA	[Role]	[Corrective action]
[Final inspection / test]	[Finished output meets the standard]	[Pass/fail rule]	QC	[Role]	[Reject / quarantine]
[Post-delivery review]	[Customer feedback / field performance]	[Pass/fail rule]	QA	[Role]	[Investigate root cause]

4. Roles and responsibilities

Role	Person	Responsibility
Quality manager / QA lead	[Name]	Owns this plan, sets standards, runs audits, reports on quality
Process owner(s)	[Name]	Ensures the defined process is followed and meets criteria
Inspector(s) / reviewer(s)	[Name]	Performs checkpoint checks and records results
Operators / contributors	[Name]	First-line quality; flags problems early
Sponsor / leadership	[Name]	Provides mandate, resources, and authority; receives reports

[Optionally attach a RACI matrix mapping each quality activity to a person.]

5. Tools and methods

• Inspection / test tools: [Gauges, checklists, automated tests, review templates]
• Tracking system: [Where defects, non-conformances, and audit findings are logged]
• Sampling approach: [100% inspection, sampling plan, or risk-based selection]
• Documentation: [Where records, certificates, and evidence are kept]

6. Metrics and reporting

Metric	Target	Source	Review cadence	Reported to
[e.g., Defect rate]	[Target value]	[Where measured]	[Weekly / monthly]	[Audience]
[e.g., First-pass yield]	[Target value]	[Where measured]	[Cadence]	[Audience]
[e.g., Customer-reported issues]	[Target value]	[Where measured]	[Cadence]	[Audience]

[State the format and forum where quality results are reviewed — e.g., a monthly quality review meeting.]

7. Non-conformance handling

• Logging: [How a non-conformance or defect is recorded, and by whom.]
• Containment: [Immediate action to stop the bad output spreading — quarantine, hold, recall.]
• Disposition: [How it is resolved — rework, accept-with-concession, scrap.]
• Root-cause analysis: [Method used — e.g., 5 Whys, fishbone — and who owns it.]
• Corrective / preventive action: [The change made so it does not recur, and how it is verified.]

8. Continuous improvement

• Review cadence: [How often this plan and its metrics are reviewed — the PDCA loop.]
• Inputs to improvement: [Metrics, audit findings, non-conformance trends, customer feedback.]
• Improvement owner: [Who drives corrective and preventive actions to completion.]
• How gains are locked in: [How a proven improvement is standardised back into the process.]

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Optional sections

• Training plan: [How staff are trained and re-certified on the standards and process.]
• Supplier quality: [How incoming materials or outsourced work are assured.]
• Audit schedule: [Planned internal and external audits across the period.]