Which best defines Quality Assurance?

• A. Procedures for guarding against defects and deficiencies before and during execution of work.
• B. Procedures for evaluating completed activities and elements of design for conformance.
• C. Standards for safety compliance during construction.
• D. Sequence of design meetings.

Answer: (A)

Quality Assurance is the proactive set of processes and procedures that prevent defects by defining how work should be done and controlling the process from the outset. It focuses on the quality of the process itself—planning, standards, training, audits, and continual improvement—so defects are avoided or caught early during execution. This matches the idea of guarding against defects and deficiencies before and during work. In contrast, evaluating completed activities for conformance describes Quality Control, which checks results after the fact. Safety standards address safety compliance, not the processes to ensure quality. A sequence of design meetings relates to project coordination and communication, not the systematic prevention of defects.