Testing involves operation of a system or application under controlled conditions and evaluating the results (e.g. If the user is in interface A of the application while using hardware B, and does C, then D should happen). The controlled conditions should include both normal and abnormal conditions. Testing should intentionally attempt to make things go wrong to determine if things happen when they shouldn't or things don't happen when they should. Organizations vary considerably in how they assign responsibility for QA and testing.

Most industrial processes performed in today's world trigger some type of environmental regulation or compliance issue. Historical operations and activities of many industrial facilities have left behind a myriad of negative environmental impacts. These activities initiated a gradual environmental degradation of air, land, and water quality. Industry and government (including state and federal agencies) are now focused in efforts to remedy past environmental damage and to ensure that future harm is not incurred.