Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST) Practice Test

What are costs required to avoid errors in a quality analysis process called?

1. Prevention costs

2. Appraisal costs

3. Failure costs

4. Production costs

The correct answer is: Prevention costs

The costs required to avoid errors in a quality analysis process are referred to as prevention costs. These costs are associated with activities aimed at preventing defects from occurring in the first place. This can include expenses related to training, process improvement, quality planning, and quality assurance activities. By investing in prevention, organizations can reduce the likelihood of errors, thereby mitigating future costs associated with correcting failures or reworking. In the context of quality management, prevention costs are critical because they contribute to overall quality enhancement. By focusing resources on identifying and eliminating potential failure points early in the development process, organizations can achieve higher levels of product quality and customer satisfaction, which ultimately leads to long-term cost savings. The other types of costs in quality management, such as appraisal costs (which are incurred to identify defects through inspection and testing), failure costs (which arise when defects are found either before or after the delivery of the product), and production costs (which pertain to the actual costs involved in producing goods), do not specifically relate to the proactive measures taken to avoid errors, making prevention costs the most accurate choice in this context.