Quality Design : the characteristics that designers specify for an item includes : Requirement, specification and design of the system.
Quality Controls means the series of inspection, reviews, and test used throughout the develop cycle of software product.
Quality Assurance (QA) All those planned and systematic actions necessary to provide adequate confidence that a structure, system, or component will perform satisfactorily in service. Risk based approach applied to establish adequate confidence based on consequences of failure (e.g. more rigor for nuclear safety applications).