Software development is a complex and dynamic process that involves various activities, such as planning, designing, coding, testing, and deploying. 

To ensure that the software meets the customers' and stakeholders' requirements and expectations, a systematic and consistent approach to quality assurance is essential. This is where a software quality assurance plan (SQAP) comes in handy.

A software quality assurance plan (SQAP) is a document that describes the methods, procedures, standards, and tools that will be used to monitor and control the quality of the software throughout the development lifecycle. It defines the roles and responsibilities of the quality assurance team, the scope and objectives of the quality assurance activities, the quality metrics and criteria, and the quality assurance deliverables and reports.

It should be customized to match the requirements and attributes of the software project, considering factors like size, complexity, domain, methodology, and technology. However, some common elements and steps can be followed to create a compelling and comprehensive software quality assurance plan (SQAP). 

In this blog, we will discuss these elements and steps in detail. But first:

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Elements of a Software Quality Assurance Plan (SQAP)

A software quality assurance plan (SQAP) typically consists of the following sections:

Introduction

This section provides an overview of the software project, the purpose and scope of the software quality assurance plan (SQAP), the references to the relevant standards and documents, and the definitions and acronyms used in the project.

Quality Assurance Organization

This section describes the organizational structure and roles of the quality assurance team, the authority and responsibility of each quality assurance member, and the communication and coordination mechanisms among the quality assurance team and other stakeholders.

Quality Assurance Activities

This section describes the quality assurance activities performed throughout the software development lifecycle, such as quality planning, quality control, quality assurance, and quality improvement. 

It also specifies the frequency, timing, and methods of these activities and the expected outcomes and deliverables.

Quality Assurance Standards

This section lists the quality standards and guidelines that will be followed and enforced by the quality assurance team, such as the coding, documentation, testing, and review standards. 

It also explains how compliance with these standards will be verified and measured.

Quality Assurance Tools And Techniques

This section identifies the tools and techniques that the quality assurance team will use to support the quality assurance activities, such as software configuration management tools, defect tracking tools, testing tools, and quality measurement tools. 

It also describes how these tools and techniques will be selected, acquired, installed, and maintained.

Quality Assurance Metrics And Criteria

This section defines the quality metrics and criteria that will be used to evaluate and report the quality of the software, such as defect density, test coverage, customer satisfaction, and reliability. 

It also establishes the quality goals and thresholds for each metric and criterion and the actions that will be taken if the goals are unmet or the thresholds are exceeded.

SQAP Metrics And KPIs To Track In 2026

Here are the specific, actionable software metrics and quality assurance KPIs worth building into your SQAP that connect directly to pipeline health and business outcomes:

1. Defect escape rate: Defects reaching production as a percentage of total defects caught; the clearest read on whether your pipeline gates are actually working.
2. Test automation coverage percentage: Share of test cases automated versus manual; most teams target 70–80% before release velocity starts to suffer.
3. Mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to resolve (MTTR): Together, these measure how fast your team spots and closes issues, which reflects both monitoring quality and process efficiency.
4. Requirements traceability coverage: Percentage of requirements linked to at least one test case; gaps here are one of the most common sources of production surprises.
5. CI/CD pipeline pass rate: Percentage of pipeline runs completing without failure; a declining trend points to either code quality issues or tests that need maintenance.
6. Customer-reported defect ratio: Defects caught by end users as a share of total defects found; a high ratio means your internal process is missing what real users aren't.
7. Code coverage by module or service: Aggregate coverage numbers can mask critical gaps; tracking by module surfaces them.
8. Test debt index: Ratio of failing, skipped, or unmaintained tests to your total suite; tends to surface as false confidence in coverage metrics if left unmonitored.

Build these into your SQAP with defined thresholds and assigned owners, and they function as early warning systems rather than lagging indicators. For more on the benefits of a rigorous QA approach and how these metrics connect to business outcomes, see our dedicated guide.

Quality Assurance Reports And Records

This section specifies the quality assurance reports and records that will be produced and maintained by the quality assurance team, such as the quality plan, quality audit report, quality test report, and quality improvement report. 

It also defines the format, content, frequency, and distribution of these reports and records and the retention and disposal policies.

Need a quality assurance plan template? A well-structured software quality audit report typically includes five components:

• Scope: What was audited like the specific processes, systems, teams, or deliverables under review, and the time period covered.
• Findings: Observations from the audit, both positive and areas requiring attention. Findings should reference the standard or process requirement each one relates to.
• Nonconformities: Specific instances where processes or outputs didn't meet defined standards. Each nonconformity should be documented with enough detail for the responsible team to understand and act on it.
• Corrective actions: The agreed-upon steps to address nonconformities, including owners and target resolution dates.
• Sign-off: Review and approval from relevant stakeholders, confirming the findings are accurate and corrective actions are accepted.

Audit reports don't need to be lengthy to be useful. A clear, consistently structured report is more actionable than a comprehensive one that buries the important findings. If your SQAP doesn't currently specify the expected structure for audit reports, adding it reduces ambiguity and makes audits more consistent across teams.

Steps To Create A Software Quality Assurance Plan (SQAP)

The following are the general steps to create a software quality assurance plan (SQAP):

1. Define the quality goals and objectives: 

The first step is to define the quality goals and objectives of the software project based on the requirements and expectations of the customers and stakeholders. 

These goals and objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

2. Identify the quality standards and guidelines: 

The next step is to identify the quality standards and guidelines applicable to the software project, such as the industry standards, regulatory standards, organizational standards, and best practices. 

These standards and guidelines should be aligned with the quality goals and objectives and provide a clear and consistent framework for quality assurance.

3. Select the quality assurance tools and techniques: 

The third step is to select the quality assurance tools and techniques that are suitable and effective for the software project, such as the software configuration management tools, defect tracking tools, testing tools, and quality measurement tools. 

These tools and techniques should support the quality assurance activities and standards and facilitate the quality assurance process.

4. Define the quality assurance activities and deliverables: 

The fourth step is to define the quality assurance activities and deliverables that will be performed and produced throughout the software development lifecycle, such as quality planning, quality control, quality assurance, and quality improvement. 

These activities and deliverables should cover all the aspects and phases of the software project and ensure that the quality standards and guidelines are followed and enforced.

5. Define the quality assurance metrics and criteria: 

The fifth step is to define the quality assurance metrics and standards that will be used to evaluate and report the quality of the software, such as defect density, test coverage, customer satisfaction, and reliability. 

These metrics and criteria should reflect the quality goals and objectives and provide a quantitative and qualitative measure of the software quality.

6. Define the quality assurance reports and records: 

The final step is to define the quality assurance reports and records that will be produced and maintained by the quality assurance team, such as the quality plan, quality audit report, quality test report, and quality improvement report. 

These reports and records should document and communicate the quality assurance process and results, and provide evidence and feedback for quality assurance.

How AI And Automation Are Reshaping Software Quality Assurance Plans In 2026

SQAP creation hasn't changed much in decades… until now. AI and automation aren't just adding new tools to your QA toolkit; they're changing what a quality assurance plan needs to say, cover, and do. 

For anyone responsible for software quality assurance management, that means the frameworks and assumptions baked into most existing SQAPs are overdue for a revisit. Here's what that looks like in practice.

AI-Powered Test Generation Is Changing What Goes Into Your SQAP

Test case creation used to be a largely manual exercise baked into your SQAP upfront, but AI is rewriting that assumption. Modern AI-assisted testing tools can generate, prioritize, and maintain test cases dynamically, meaning your SQAP needs to account for governance of AI outputs, not just a static list of planned tests.

The adoption curve is real: analysts estimate over 70% of enterprises will adopt AI for test authoring and maintenance, and three-quarters of teams using traditional code-based frameworks have already adopted AI testing tools. 

What this means for your SQAP: you need explicit sections covering how AI-generated tests are reviewed, validated, and governed, not just how tests are written. A plan that doesn't address human review requirements for AI outputs has a real gap.

Shift-Left Testing Is Restructuring How SQAPs Are Built

Shift-left has moved from principle to standard practice in teams running mature CI/CD pipelines. The economic case is well-established: IBM Systems Sciences Institute data shows defect remediation costs escalate roughly 100x from design phase to production.

For SQAPs, the structural implication is significant. A plan built around end-of-cycle testing phases doesn't reflect how modern teams actually work. SQAPs written for shift-left environments need to define quality gates at each pipeline stage – requirements, development, integration, and deployment – rather than treating QA as a handoff that happens after coding. 

If your current SQAP still describes testing as a discrete phase, it may be describing a process your team no longer uses.

Continuous Quality Assurance Makes A Single SQAP Document Insufficient

Continuous QA, or quality gates embedded directly into CI/CD pipelines rather than scheduled review cycles, means software quality assurance activities are happening constantly, not periodically. A static SQAP document updated once a quarter can't keep pace with a pipeline running dozens of deployments a week.

The practical answer is treating your SQAP as living documentation: version-controlled, updated as pipelines evolve, and tied to the quality gates defined in your deployment infrastructure. This doesn't mean abandoning the SQAP structure. Instead, it means building in a cadence for keeping it current. 

Teams that do this well embed SQAP review into sprint retrospectives or release planning rather than treating it as an annual compliance exercise.

The Shift From QA To Quality Engineering Changes Who Owns The Plan

The QA engineer role is evolving. The QA trends data for 2026 shows 77.7% AI-first quality engineering adoption, with QA practitioners increasingly moving from test execution to test strategy, tooling architecture, and pipeline design. Quality engineers today are less likely to be running manual test suites and more likely to be designing the automated systems that do.

This role shift has direct implications for your SQAP. Ownership, review responsibilities, and the skillsets assumed in the plan may need updating. A SQAP written with a traditional QA-as-executor model in mind will misrepresent how your team actually operates, and what you need to hire or develop for. 

Use your next SQAP revision as an opportunity to reflect the actual distribution of quality responsibility across engineering, QA, and DevOps. You can find deeper guidance on the tools supporting this evolution in our enterprise QA tools guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About Software Quality Assurance Plans

What is a software quality assurance plan (SQAP)?

A SQAP is a document that defines how quality will be managed throughout a software development project, inluding covering processes, standards, tools, roles, metrics, and reporting so teams and stakeholders share a common definition of what "good" looks like.

What is the difference between a QA plan and a test plan?

A QA plan covers the full scope of quality governance across a project; a test plan focuses specifically on what will be tested, how, and by whom. Think of the QA plan as the strategic framework and the test plan as one tactical document beneath it. Learn more in our guide on enterprise software quality assurance testing.

How often should a SQAP be updated?

At minimum, review it at the start of each major project phase or whenever your team structure, tooling, or development process changes significantly. Teams on continuous delivery pipelines do better treating the SQAP as living documentation, meaning it’s updated incrementally rather than revisited annually.

What are the most important elements of a SQAP?

Clearly defined quality objectives, specific metrics with thresholds, unambiguous role ownership, and a regular audit cadence. Plans that define metrics conceptually without assigning owners or setting thresholds tend to produce the same result as no metrics at all. Looking for a quality assurance plan example to work from? Our QA checklist resource walks through each element with practical guidance.

Who is responsible for creating and maintaining the SQAP?

Traditionally QA leads, but in teams that have adopted quality engineering practices, ownership often expands to include engineering leads and DevOps. What matters most is that one named person owns updates and review cycles.

How does agile development change the SQAP approach?

Agile teams typically maintain a lightweight, high-level SQAP for core standards and governance, supplemented by sprint- or release-level documentation rather than a single upfront document. The goal is the same; the form adapts to the delivery cadence.

How MSH Can Help You With Software Quality Assurance

If you are looking for reliable and professional software quality assurance solutions,  look no further than MSH. 

Learn more about our QA process here or schedule a call for a technology consultation. We would love to hear from you and discuss how we can help you with your software quality assurance needs.