At the root of any good business is a high quality product. For most, these products are physical, something we notice simply by walking by it or actively touching it. However, for others they improve our daily lives without us giving them much thought. In today’s software landscape, ensuring a high quality product is more important than ever for customer satisfaction and profitability. It takes a measured approach combined with an understanding of both customer and business needs to create tangible software quality enhancement.
Prachit Kurani, a software quality manager, plays a key role in the roll out of new products. Graduating from San Jose State University with a Masters in Computer Engineering, was just the beginning for Kurani. His roles have only grown in size as his career has grown, working with Conduent, SunPower Corporation and ultimately to his current role at Dover Fueling Solutions. He has developed a structured approach to quality control, which involves him putting an onus on collaboration, and more recently the strategic use of AI.
So, how does one implement effective quality control in software development? How does this process work to create a better product for customers? For Kurani it starts with a strong framework which incorporates established methods while remaining committed to continuous improvement.
“We follow the Kaizen process, which focuses on continuous improvement,” he explains. “Simultaneously our development team utilizes SAFe methodologies through tools like Stormboard and PI Planning.” The Kaizen process is a Japanese business methodology that emphasises improvement and helps Kurani to “dissect processes, identify pain points and address concerns from all stakeholders.”
Building on this framework, the quality manager clearing defines the product phases which ensure each release has enough time to be validated. “The phases- Plan, Build, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), Release Preparation, and Deployment- provide a structure approved which helps to reduce production costs while enhancing software quality and minimizing warranty costs,” he says. The benefits of this structured approach are felt on both sides through customer satisfaction and business profitability. It also ensures that potential issues are identified and addressed early in the development cycle, preventing cost and time-consuming work later on.
What makes Kurani stand out is his ability to see the bigger picture. “As a part of the quality team I collaborate with project management, product management, engineering, product owners and end-to-end quality teams to ensure seamless new product development,” he states. It is this broad level of visibility from product inception to launch that gives him a heightened understanding of the requirements, functionality and compliance. “Having this perspective enables me to define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that drive quality improvements and optimize warranty costs, ultimately enhancing overall business profitability.”
Kurani’s collaborative approach and understanding of the product lifecycle are crucial when identifying potential risks while simultaneously ensuring that all requirements are met. He emphasizes the importance of defining clear quality checkpoints.
“Each product must pass multiple quality checkpoints before launch,” Kurani explains. “For example, with a wireless tap payment system for grocery stores, we ensure hardware readiness to meet industry standards. Then we verify Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) compliance to prevent hazards during and after installation before validating manufacturing quality to guarantee compliance of third-party components and integration with the system. Next we conduct software testing covering UI, firmware updates, and payment processing, and finally, confirm regulatory compliance to meet government and security standards to protect user data.” This process is one where each step ensures quality performance and product, and finishes with conducting performance testing to ensure the system is resilient enough to handle high transaction volumes such as those seen in self checkout lanes.
This meticulous approach ensures that the final product is not only functional but also safe, secure, and reliable, meeting the stringent demands of today’s consumer market.
However, none of this would be possible without Kurani’s dedication to collaboration. “Collaboration across all stakeholders is key to ensuring that requirements, product specifications, and compliance standards are aligned early in development,” he asserts. Cooperation and teamwork on all fronts guarantees that each department has input not only in the final product, but the process as well. This approach helps reduce rework while preventing budget overruns. Early and consistent communication between all teams involved prevents misunderstandings, reduces the risk of errors, and ultimately contributes to a more cost-effective and higher-quality product.
As technology improves so too does the landscape within software quality assurance. Kurani points out, “the software domain is constantly evolving and AI has significantly enhanced efficiency in multiple ways.” Through AI driven DFMEA (Defect Failure Mode Efficiency Analysis) he is able to identify potential product failures before launch. This opens up the opportunity to suggest solutions preemptively helping to reduce product defects. He adds, “AI-powered tools like Copilot assist in code review, debugging and accelerating development while ensuring higher accuracy and faster deployment. By integrating AI into software quality assurance and predictive analytics, we enhance risk management, accelerate development, and optimize long-term product reliability.”
Prachit Kurani’s dedication to a structured approach has allowed him to create high quality products. Through the Kaizen method and addition of AI tools, Kurani has found a way to satisfy both customers and business. Driving quality and efficiency while constantly collaborating creates the opportunity to stay ahead of the process, avoiding the potholes of rework and going over budget. As products become less physical our interactions with them become more seamless, and it is thanks to the hard work of software quality managers such as Prachit Kurani that this is possible.
To follow the exciting career of Prachit Kurani, check out his LinkedIn page at https://www.linkedin.com/in/prachitkurani/
