Quality control in construction is the day-to-day inspection, verification and testing that ensures each phase of the build meets design specs, codes and workmanship standards. Think of it as the hands-on checkpoints that confirm the work was done right.

Quality assurance, on the other hand, is higher-level. It’s the systems, training programs, SOPs and accountability structures that make quality more likely in the first place. It’s proactive instead of reactive.

You need both: Quality assurance sets the stage, and quality control enforces it in the field. Without QA, QC becomes endless rechecking. Without QC, even the best systems fail to catch mistakes before they reach the client.