As we discussed in our 2026 PV Module Manufacturing Quality Report, module defects are increasing as manufacturers struggle to achieve consistent quality with materials selection and process controls. Figure 1: Kiwa PI Berlin’s Factory Audit AnalysisThis is where quality assurance has become increasingly valuable. Figure 2: PSI Defects by TypeFor many years, quality assurance was often viewed as a cost that could potentially be avoided. Perhaps the biggest benefit of quality assurance is that it addresses problems before they become expensive. For that reason, quality assurance is no longer a supporting activity at the edge of project development.