Along with developers, QA, QC Engineer plays an important part in the software development process. QC is both a tool and a process to help improve and release software in the best status.
QC Definition
As for the term, QC refers to:
QC Engineer (abbreviation of Quality Control) is the person responsible for performing software quality inspection. In normally, there are 2 QC positions: Manual QC (nonrequired programming skills) and Automation QC (required programming skills).
If QA approach in process, QC approach product aspect. It is interested in operations and techniques to fulfill quality requirements.
QC is the process at the M&C stage but starts in the beginning of project. And this is a reactive method that means when a defect is detected, there is a corrective response, it is not as proactive as in QA.
The objective of QC Engineer is to ensure that deliverables have no defect-free and accepted in the quality requirements. If the deliverables are not as required, QC Engineer needs to have a repair.
QC Tester Career
The main tasks of QC Engineer are:
Learn the system, analyze descriptive documents on the system and design test case. In addition, QC also performs software testing before delivering to customers.
Plan for testing (usually done by QC Leader).
Write scripts for Automation Test (if automation testing is applied).
Use test tools to create and execute detailed test cases / scripts.
Coordinate with the programming team in fixing bugs and report detail for Project Manager or other related parties depending on the project.
Unlike PQA, the need to recruit QC Engineer or SQA is very much in every software company because testing is an important step in the product development process. QC and PQA will interact with each other as:
PQA provides workflow for product development team. Including the Testing phase, determine QC for which stage to test the product, which tool to use, and at which standard is the fulfil requirement product.
QC enforces the process set by PQA.
PQA monitors, follows and checks whether QC is performing properly or not. Then edit it to suit the progress and status of the project.
QC reports test results for Lead QC / QC Manager. PQA reports the results of the product development process implementation for Project Manager.
QC Engineer Skills and Improvement
Essential skills for QC Engineer:
Code skills (if you do Automation QC Engineer)
QC Engineer must have a good knowledge of all functions and aspects of the product. So, they can review the requirements.
QC Engineer need to be careful and careful. Because this work requires extreme accuracy and attention to every problematic aspect of the product.
Good communication skill. Because QC Engineer has to work with many other members in the team and especially conveying their opinions and feedback with Developer, Project Manager.
Resources that are useful for learning QC Engineer:
Software Testing Help: specialized website in Testing with knowledge from basic to advanced.
Tutorials Point: specialized website in advanced Testing knowledge.
Test this Blog by Eric Jacobson: a website with very useful Testing experience from blogger Eric Jacobson.
Automation Beyond: knowledge of Automation Test.
uTest: FAQ forum about Testing quickly and conveniently.
SQA Forum: a very popular software testing forum that helps answer questions about testing and careers.
Software Test Automation Forums: forum about Automation Testing.
Rainforest QA Blog: blog about SQA with lots of practical and useful knowledge.
SoftwareQATest: specializing website of basic knowledge and advanced Testing career.
Software Testing Fundamentals: specialize in SQA career with lots of good information, from basic to advanced.
Testing VN: Vietnamese software testing forum is very lively, exchanging lots of useful information.