The quality management program of the contractor is a written document that describes the contractor's processes, rules, and procedures for ensuring that the project's quality standards are met or exceeded. A quality control strategy and quality assurance procedures comprise the program.

Quality control (QC) is the contractor's definition of how the construction project's quality will be handled. Any unique project quality standards must be specified in a project-specific document. It explains who is responsible for meeting quality standards and how to do so. It establishes a framework with well-defined procedures and practices to ensure that the final product meets or exceeds the project's quality criteria.

However, quality assurance (QA) is defined as the contractor's procedure or approach for achieving the desired level of project quality. This protocol outlines the inspection requirements, the schedule of the inspections, the written report, who is to receive and review it, as well as if corrections are required, who will make them and how, and the follow-up procedures.