QC

Quality Control

A specific aspect of quality management focused on identifying and correcting defects in existing products, services, or deliverables. Unlike Quality Assurance (QA), which aims to prevent issues through systematic processes, QC is reactive—it catches problems that have already occurred.

In a marketing technology context, QC might involve reviewing email campaigns after they’re drafted, checking landing pages before they go live, or auditing customer data that’s already in your system. Think of QA as the safety protocols in a kitchen that prevent food contamination, while QC is the taste test before serving the meal. QC typically involves specific inspection points, acceptance and rejection criteria, and standardized testing procedures.

For example, a QC process for marketing emails might include checking for broken links, verifying that all personalization tokens are working correctly, and ensuring that unsubscribe links are functional. While QC is essential, it’s most effective when paired with robust QA processes that help prevent issues from occurring in the first place.

• Abbreviation: QC