One of my key passions is moving from traditional Testing to Quality Engineering. Over the course of 2025, I have been developing a model to help with this transition. Below is the model and a blog series I have written to cover the detail
Transforming QA into Quality Engineering: A Pragmatic Approach
As the job search continues, I’ve been learning about a consulting mindset, had some great conversations with some awesome people and read some really useful books. All have led me to a point where a model I’d been working on for a while has been developed further and would provide a useful basis for helping…
QA to QE Phase 1 – Assess and Plan – Laying the Foundations
Following on from the last post which summarised the whole model, let’s move onto the first step. Quality Engineering (QE) is a game-changer, but making the leap from traditional QA practices to a more modern, holistic approach takes some groundwork. You can’t just dive straight in; it all starts with understanding where you are now…
QA to QE Phase 2: Setting Up Capabilities for Quality Engineering
Following on from Phase 1, once the groundwork is in place, the next stage is to build the foundations fully, this comes from ensuring we have all the right tools in our tool box to make the transformation effective. Transformation is never just a flip of a switch; it’s a journey. As we step into…
QA to QE Phase 3 – Implementing Practices for Quality Engineering
Follwing on from laying the groundwork and building the right capabilities, phase 3 is the pivotal stage where preparation evolves into execution. It’s the time to embed quality engineering principles into day-to-day delivery processes and create tangible impact across the organisation. This phase brings together strategies, tools, and people to drive transformation forward. See below…
QA to QE Phase 4 – Growing a Culture of Quality
Phase 4 is where Quality Engineering truly becomes part of an organisation’s DNA. This phase is all about fostering a culture where quality is a shared value, owned and embraced by every individual. By promoting shared responsibility, celebrating successes, and encouraging experimentation, organisations can create a lasting Quality-First Culture. Building this culture is something I’ve…
QA to QE Phase 5 -Measure and Adapt – QE Feedback Loop in Action
Now that we have defined how we are going to work in the QE world, built the capabilities, delivered change and modified the culture, we now need to look at how we assess how effective we are now working. As we reach Phase 5 of the Quality Engineering Transformation Model, the focus shifts to creating…
Transforming QA to Quality Engineering: Implementing across Industries and Contexts
Now that we have defined the model, I wanted to look into how it could be applied across different industries and into different ways of working. No two companies work in the same way so some of this will not apply directly, but the point of this article is that Quality Engineering isn’t hindered from…
QA to QE – Implementing the Model with SaaS Solutions
The adoption of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions offers organisations convenience, scalability, and pre-built functionality. However, these solutions come with their own complexities: limited customisation, vague quality assurance processes, and frequent updates driven by the vendors. By applying the five phases of the Quality Engineering Transformation Model, organisations could tackle these challenges head-on and transform their approach…
QA to QE – Unlocking Success with Third Party Supplier Teams
Modern software development often involves collaboration with third-party suppliers, whether for specialised components, outsourced development, or external expertise. While these partnerships bring opportunities for scale and innovation, they also introduce unique challenges: inconsistent quality standards, misaligned priorities, and communication gaps. I’ve worked closely with a variety of suppliers over the last 6 years and have…
QA to QE – Navigating Compliance in Regulated Industries
Regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, and aviation bring their own set of unique challenges. These sectors require strict adherence to compliance, risk management, and audit readiness, all of which can feel like a roadblock to innovation. However, by embracing the five phases of the QE Transformation Model, organisations can not only meet regulatory demands…
QA to QE: Rethinking Quality in the Age of AI
I’ve been looking forward to writing this blog since I started this series. AI is not going to go anywhere, so we need to adapt our thinking in the QE/Testing world. The rise of AI is revolutionising how we build, test, and deliver software. Traditional Quality Assurance (QA) practices, focused on validating outputs, are no…
QA to QE – Winning Stakeholder Buy-In
Hopefully, if you are reading this, you’ll be aware that Quality isn’t just about finding defects, it’s about building confidence in the solutions we deliver. Despite advancements in automation and modern development practices, bizarrely, quality still remains quite misunderstood. Many organisations still view QA as a final hurdle rather than an integral part of success.…
Simon Prior 