Complete the following sentence: Quality control is a(n)_______________ process while quality assurance is a(n)________________ process.

While 'inspection' correctly identifies quality control, 'costly' does not define quality assurance - QA is characterized as a prevention-oriented process, not by its cost attribute.

This reverses the definitions - quality assurance is not an inspection process and quality control is not simply 'management'; QC inspects outputs while QA prevents defects through process control.

Quality control involves inspecting work products after they are produced to detect and correct defects, making it reactive and inspection-oriented. Quality assurance is a proactive, prevention-focused discipline that audits and improves the processes used to create those products - this distinction is a foundational concept in quality management frameworks including ISO 9000 and PMBOK.

This answer completely inverts the correct relationship - QC is the inspection process and QA is the prevention process, not the other way around.