What are Quality Assurance metrics? Finding the right Quality Assurance metrics can be daunting, especially when you're busy working on your day-to-day tasks. This is why we've curated a list of examples for your inspiration.
You can copy these examples into your preferred app, or alternatively, use Tability to stay accountable.
Find Quality Assurance metrics with AI While we have some examples available, it's likely that you'll have specific scenarios that aren't covered here. You can use our free AI metrics generator below to generate your own strategies.
Examples of Quality Assurance metrics and KPIs 1. defect density Defect density measures the number of defects per unit of software size, usually per thousand lines of code (KLOC)
What good looks like for this metric: 1-5 defects per KLOC
Ideas to improve this metric Improve code reviews Implement automated testing Enhance developer training Increase test coverage Use static code analysis 2. code coverage Code coverage measures the percentage of code that is executed by automated tests
What good looks like for this metric: 70-80%
Ideas to improve this metric Write more unit tests Implement integration testing Use better testing tools Collaborate closely with QA team Regularly refactor code for testability 3. mean time to resolve (MTTR) MTTR measures the average time taken to resolve a defect once it has been identified
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 8 hours
Ideas to improve this metric Streamline incident management process Automate triage tasks Improve defect prioritization Enhance developer expertise Implement rapid feedback loops 4. customer-reported defects This metric counts the number of defects reported by end users or customers
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 1 defect per month
Ideas to improve this metric Implement thorough user acceptance testing Conduct regular beta tests Enhance support and issue tracking Improve customer feedback channels Use user personas in development 5. code churn Code churn measures the amount of code changes over a period of time, indicating stability and code quality
What good looks like for this metric: 10-20%
Ideas to improve this metric Encourage smaller, iterative changes Implement continuous integration Use version control effectively Conduct regular code reviews Enhance change management processes
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1. Code Coverage Measures the percentage of your code that is covered by automated tests
What good looks like for this metric: 70%-90%
Ideas to improve this metric Increase unit tests Use code coverage tools Refactor complex code Implement test-driven development Conduct code reviews frequently 2. Code Complexity Assesses the complexity of the code using metrics like Cyclomatic Complexity
What good looks like for this metric: 1-10 (Lower is better)
Ideas to improve this metric Simplify conditional statements Refactor to smaller functions Reduce nested loops Use design patterns appropriately Perform regular code reviews 3. Technical Debt Measures the cost of additional work caused by choosing easy solutions now instead of better approaches
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 5%
Ideas to improve this metric Refactor code regularly Avoid quick fixes Ensure high-quality code reviews Update and follow coding standards Use static code analysis tools 4. Defect Density Calculates the number of defects per 1000 lines of code
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 1 defect/KLOC
Ideas to improve this metric Implement thorough testing Increase peer code reviews Enhance developer training Use static analysis tools Adopt continuous integration 5. Code Churn Measures the amount of code that is added, modified, or deleted over time
What good looks like for this metric: 10-20%
Ideas to improve this metric Stabilise project requirements Improve initial code quality Adopt pair programming Reduce unnecessary refactoring Enhance documentation
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1. Defect Density Measures the number of defects per unit size of the software, usually per thousand lines of code
What good looks like for this metric: 1-10 defects per KLOC
Ideas to improve this metric Implement code reviews Increase automated testing Enhance developer training Use static code analysis tools Adopt Test-Driven Development (TDD) 2. Mean Time to Failure (MTTF) Measures the average time between failures for a system or component during operation
What good looks like for this metric: Varies widely by industry and system type, generally higher is better
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct regular maintenance routines Implement rigorous testing cycles Enhance monitoring and alerting systems Utilise redundancy and failover mechanisms Improve codebase documentation 3. Customer-Reported Incidents Counts the number of issues or bugs reported by customers within a given period
What good looks like for this metric: Varies depending on product and customer base, generally lower is better
Ideas to improve this metric Engage in proactive customer support Release regular updates and patches Conduct user feedback sessions Improve user documentation Monitor and analyse incident trends 4. Code Coverage Indicates the percentage of the source code covered by automated tests
What good looks like for this metric: 70-90% code coverage
Ideas to improve this metric Increase unit testing Use automated testing tools Adopt continuous integration practices Refactor legacy code Integrate end-to-end testing 5. Release Frequency Measures how often new releases are deployed to production
What good looks like for this metric: Depends on product and development cycle; frequently updated software is often more reliable
Ideas to improve this metric Adopt continuous delivery Automate deployment processes Improve release planning Reduce deployment complexity Engage in regular sprint retrospectives
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1. Code Quality Measures the standards of the code written by the developer using metrics like cyclomatic complexity, code churn, and code maintainability index
What good looks like for this metric: Maintainability index above 70
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct regular code reviews Utilise static code analysis tools Adopt coding standards and guidelines Refactor code regularly to reduce complexity Invest in continuous learning and training 2. Deployment Frequency Evaluates the frequency at which a developer releases code changes to production
What good looks like for this metric: Multiple releases per week
Ideas to improve this metric Automate deployment processes Use continuous integration and delivery pipelines Schedule regular release sessions Encourage modular code development Enhance collaboration with DevOps teams 3. Lead Time for Changes Measures the time taken from code commit to deployment in production, reflecting efficiency in development and delivery
What good looks like for this metric: Less than one day
Ideas to improve this metric Streamline the code review process Optimise testing procedures Improve communication across teams Automate build and testing workflows Implement parallel development tracks 4. Change Failure Rate Represents the proportion of deployments that result in a failure requiring a rollback or hotfix
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 15%
Ideas to improve this metric Implement thorough testing before deployment Decrease batch size of code changes Conduct post-implementation reviews Improve error monitoring and logging Enhance rollback procedures 5. System Downtime Assesses the total time that applications are non-operational due to code changes or failures attributed to backend systems
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 0.1% downtime
Ideas to improve this metric Invest in high availability infrastructure Enhance real-time monitoring systems Regularly test system resilience Implement effective incident response plans Improve software redundancy mechanisms
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1. Code Quality Measures the frequency and severity of bugs detected in the codebase.
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 10 bugs per 1000 lines of code
Ideas to improve this metric Implement regular code reviews Use static code analysis tools Provide training on best coding practices Encourage test-driven development Adopt a peer programming strategy 2. Deployment Frequency Tracks how often code changes are successfully deployed to production.
What good looks like for this metric: Deploy at least once a day
Ideas to improve this metric Automate the deployment pipeline Reduce bottlenecks in the process Regularly publish small, manageable changes Incentivise swift yet comprehensive testing Improve team communication and collaboration 3. Mean Time to Recovery (MTTR) Measures the average time taken to recover from a service failure.
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 1 hour
Ideas to improve this metric Develop a robust incident response plan Streamline rollback and recovery processes Use monitoring tools to detect issues early Conduct post-mortems and learn from failures Enhance system redundancy and fault tolerance 4. Test Coverage Represents the percentage of code which is tested by automated tests.
What good looks like for this metric: 70% to 90%
Ideas to improve this metric Implement continuous integration with testing Educate developers on writing effective tests Regularly update and refactor out-of-date tests Encourage a culture of writing tests Utilise behaviour-driven development techniques 5. API Response Time Measures the time taken for an API to respond to a request.
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 200ms
Ideas to improve this metric Optimize database queries Utilise caching effectively Reduce payload size Use load balancing techniques Profile and identify performance bottlenecks
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1. Code Quality Assesses the readability, structure, and efficiency of the written code in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
What good looks like for this metric: Clean, well-commented code with no linting errors
Ideas to improve this metric Utilise code linters and formatters Adopt a consistent coding style Refactor code regularly Practise writing clear comments Review code with peers 2. Page Load Time Measures the time it takes for a webpage to fully load in a browser
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 3 seconds
Ideas to improve this metric Minimise HTTP requests Optimise image sizes Use CSS and JS minification Leverage browser caching Use content delivery networks 3. Responsive Design Evaluates how well a website adapts to different screen sizes and devices
What good looks like for this metric: Seamless functionality across all devices
Ideas to improve this metric Use relative units like percentages Implement CSS media queries Test designs on multiple devices Adopt a mobile-first approach Utilise frameworks like Bootstrap 4. Cross-browser Compatibility Ensures a website functions correctly across different web browsers
What good looks like for this metric: Consistent experience on all major browsers
Ideas to improve this metric Test site on all major browsers Use browser-specific prefixes Avoid deprecated features Employ browser compatibility tools Regularly update code for latest standards 5. User Experience (UX) Measures how user-friendly and intuitive the interface is for users
What good looks like for this metric: High user satisfaction and easy navigation
Ideas to improve this metric Simplify navigation structures Ensure consistent design patterns Conduct user testing regularly Gather and implement user feedback Improve the accessibility of designs
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1. Planned vs Actual Delivery Dates This metric compares the initially planned delivery dates to the actual delivery dates to assess the team's ability to meet deadlines
What good looks like for this metric: 80% of projects delivered on time
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct detailed planning sessions Implement regular progress reviews Improve risk management practices Enhance communication within the team Optimise resource allocation 2. Scope Creep Measures the changes and additions in the project scope after the project has commenced, indicating how often the team deviates from the original plan
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 5% increase in scope
Ideas to improve this metric Establish clear project requirements Implement strict change control processes Engage stakeholders early and often Document all changes meticulously Maintain a project scope baseline 3. Budget Variance This metric tracks the difference between the budgeted costs and the actual costs incurred, indicating financial planning accuracy
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 10% budget overrun
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct thorough budget forecasting Monitor expenditures closely Implement cost control measures Review financial reports regularly Optimise purchasing processes 4. Defect Density Measures the number of defects identified within a certain timeframe or phase of the project, reflecting product quality
What good looks like for this metric: Fewer than 1 defect per 1000 lines of code
Ideas to improve this metric Enhance testing processes Implement automated testing tools Provide training on quality standards Review code regularly Incorporate quality assurance in each phase 5. Customer Satisfaction Assesses the stakeholders' and customers' satisfaction with the delivered project through surveys and feedback mechanisms
What good looks like for this metric: Customer satisfaction score above 8 out of 10
Ideas to improve this metric Gather customer feedback regularly Act on the feedback received Improve stakeholder communication Deliver regular project updates Ensure project deliverables meet expectations
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1. On-time delivery Percentage of project milestones completed on schedule
What good looks like for this metric: 85-95%
Ideas to improve this metric Create realistic timelines Use project management tools Monitor progress regularly Identify and mitigate risks Communicate effectively with the team 2. Budget adherence Percentage of project milestones completed within the allocated budget
What good looks like for this metric: 90-100%
Ideas to improve this metric Develop a detailed budget plan Monitor expenses regularly Utilise cost management software Negotiate better rates with vendors Implement a cost control strategy 3. Scope compliance Percentage of project deliverables that meet the defined scope
What good looks like for this metric: 90-100%
Ideas to improve this metric Clearly define project scope Use change control processes Regularly review project requirements Engage stakeholders throughout the project Maintain detailed documentation 4. Stakeholder satisfaction Average satisfaction rating from project stakeholders
What good looks like for this metric: 4-5 out of 5
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct regular feedback sessions Address stakeholder concerns promptly Maintain transparent communication Set realistic expectations Deliver high-quality work 5. Quality of deliverables Percentage of project deliverables that meet quality standards
What good looks like for this metric: 95-100%
Ideas to improve this metric Implement quality assurance processes Use regular testing and reviews Set clear quality criteria Provide adequate training Encourage continuous improvement
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1. On-Time Delivery Rate The percentage of projects delivered on or before their scheduled deadlines
What good looks like for this metric: 85-90%
Ideas to improve this metric Set realistic deadlines based on project complexity Utilise Gantt charts for better timeline management Track progress regularly against the schedule Engage in proactive risk management Ensure resource availability and skill alignment 2. Budget Adherence The percentage of projects completed within the allocated budget
What good looks like for this metric: 85-95%
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct thorough cost estimation Monitor expenses in real-time Implement change control procedures Secure contingency funds for unforeseen costs Regularly review budget utilisation 3. Scope Creep The amount of unplanned work and changes in scope that occur during the project lifecycle
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 10%
Ideas to improve this metric Define clear project scope documentation Establish a formal change request process Engage stakeholders early and often Track scope changes meticulously Utilise scope management tools 4. Client Satisfaction The level of client satisfaction measured through surveys and feedback, typically scored on a scale of 1-5
What good looks like for this metric: 4.0 or higher
Ideas to improve this metric Conduct regular client check-ins Act on feedback promptly Set realistic client expectations from the start Maintain transparent communication Deliver all promised features and functionalities 5. Defect Density The number of defects found per unit of product, often measured per 1,000 lines of code
What good looks like for this metric: Less than 5 defects per 1,000 lines of code
Ideas to improve this metric Implement thorough testing phases Conduct code reviews regularly Utilise automated testing tools Provide adequate training for developers Establish clear coding standards
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Tracking your Quality Assurance metrics Having a plan is one thing, sticking to it is another.
Setting good strategies is only the first challenge. The hard part is to avoid distractions and make sure that you commit to the plan. A simple weekly ritual will greatly increase the chances of success.
A tool like Tability can also help you by combining AI and goal-setting to keep you on track.
More metrics recently published We have more examples to help you below.
Planning resources OKRs are a great way to translate strategies into measurable goals. Here are a list of resources to help you adopt the OKR framework:
Tability's check-ins will save you hours and increase transparency
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