Many companies believe they can save costs by cutting their QA teams, assuming developers can handle testing on their own. On the surface, this may seem like a practical move, but in reality, it opens the door to a host of risks—expensive post-launch fixes, overwhelmed development teams, and damaged reputations that are hard to recover.Cutting QA may seem like a shortcut, but it’s one that often leads to long-term losses.
Every successful product shares one thing in common: trust. Whether it’s an app or a reliable platform, trust is built on consistent quality. Behind this reliability are the QA engineers who ensure every detail is flawless. These experts don’t just test—they drive innovation, improve efficiency, and enhance growth.
This blog will dive into why QA engineers are indispensable and how they can transform your product from good to exceptional.
The Role of QA in Development
Imagine launching a product without a safety net. Sounds risky? That’s exactly what happens when companies sideline their QA teams. QA engineers aren’t just an operational detail—they’re your first and last line of defense against bugs, poor usability, and dissatisfied customers.
It isn’t just about catching bugs; it’s about safeguarding the user experience and ensuring that the product meets both functional and non-functional requirements. QA professionals:
- Test for usability and performance, ensuring the product works as intended in real-world scenarios.
- Act as advocates for the user, identifying flaws that could impact customer satisfaction.
- Help create automated testing frameworks that speed up future development cycles and catch issues early.
- Serve as a critical feedback loop for developers, helping to refine features and improve overall functionality.
QA Saves Projects from Disaster
A notable example of QA's pivotal role is the case of NASA's Mars Climate Orbiter mission in 1999. The mission failed because one engineering team used imperial units (pounds), while another used metric units (newtons) for a key spacecraft operation, resulting in the orbiter’s catastrophic loss. This incident highlights how even minor errors can have monumental consequences when QA processes are neglected.
Conversely, a shining example of QA's importance is the Apollo 11 mission that successfully landed humans on the moon in 1969. NASA’s rigorous quality assurance and testing processes were integral to overcoming the immense technical challenges of that era, ensuring not just mission success but also the safe return of astronauts. As software engineer Margaret Hamilton, who led the Apollo program’s software development, famously said: "The more we shared responsibility through rigorous testing and teamwork, the higher the probability of mission success."
Another example comes from Toyota's meteoric rise as an auto industry leader. The Toyota Production System, a manufacturing methodology deeply rooted in quality assurance, set a global benchmark for operational excellence. Their commitment to continuous improvement and meticulous quality checks resulted in reliable, high-quality vehicles that earned consumer trust worldwide.
These examples remind us that QA is not just about preventing errors; it’s about creating systems that inspire confidence, protect investments, and drive innovation. As tech pioneer Edsger Dijkstra put it: "Testing shows the presence, not the absence of bugs." This mindset remains central to modern QA practices, where identifying and addressing potential risks early is key to launching reliable, successful products.
The Ripple Effect of Cutting QA
When QA roles are eliminated, the consequences reverberate throughout the development lifecycle:
- Increased Development Costs: Bugs discovered after a product launch are exponentially more expensive to fix. Research by the Systems Sciences Institute at IBM found that the cost to resolve a defect post-release can be up to 100 times higher than fixing it during the design or development phases. This includes direct costs like patch creation and testing, as well as indirect costs like downtime, reputation damage, and lost sales.
- Decreased Team Morale: When QA roles are removed, the burden of bug detection shifts to developers. This dual responsibility creates inefficiencies, as developers spend valuable time addressing issues they aren’t specialized to handle. Over time, this leads to frustration, burnout, and even higher turnover rates within the team.
- Customer Backlash: Launching a product with poor quality control can have devastating effects on customer trust. Consumers are quick to share negative experiences in online reviews and social media, amplifying dissatisfaction. A notable example is Samsung's Galaxy Note 7, where battery defects caused devices to catch fire. The failure in quality control led to a $5 billion loss and significant reputational damage for the company.
QA is an Investment, Not an Expense
Rather than viewing QA as a cost center, companies should see it as a critical investment in their product’s success. The QA team acts as the final line of defense against potential disasters, ensuring that products meet their full potential and deliver value to users.
According to Capers Jones, a leading software quality expert, companies investing in robust QA processes can reduce development costs by up to 50% over the lifecycle of a product. This efficiency stems from the ability to catch issues early and avoid the exponential costs associated with post-release fixes.
Moreover, by integrating QA into the early stages of the development cycle, teams can accelerate timelines without compromising on quality. Companies like Netflix have demonstrated how QA, combined with automation and innovative testing frameworks, ensures consistent performance and scalability, even under the immense pressure of serving millions of users simultaneously.
In essence, QA is the mechanism that ensures the delivery of value—not just to users but also to stakeholders who rely on the product’s reliability to drive revenue and growth. As software engineering pioneer W. Edwards Deming aptly stated, “Quality is not just an act; it’s a habit.” Investing in QA is not about avoiding short-term costs but about building a culture of excellence that pays dividends in the long run.
BetterEngineer: Helping You Build Better Technology
At BetterEngineer, we understand the vital role QA professionals play in technology creation. We’re here to help companies find the right people to build robust, reliable, and user-friendly products. Don’t let budget cuts jeopardize your product’s success—partner with us to build a team that ensures quality from start to finish.
