QA Test Runs Pipeline Template
Keep every QA test run under control
Start every QA cycle by duplicating the Functional Test Sweep card, attaching your TestRail export, and dragging it through five Instaboard pipeline stages. This template keeps run scope, environment prep, execution evidence, and fix verification in one canvas so handoffs stay obvious. Duplicate reusable cards to capture regression details, attach screenshots or logs alongside results, and tag high-risk work so engineering jumps in fast. As the run advances left-to-right, every stakeholder can see what passed, what still blocks release, and where to focus the next sprint's automation work.
- See every run's status as you drag cards from intake to sign-off
- Duplicate structured QA cards so every pass reuses checklists and labels
- Attach evidence directly to test-run cards so release decisions stay fast
- Tag blockers with Instaboard labels to spotlight security, regression, or performance risks
Start in Intake & Planning
Duplicate the "Functional Test Sweep" card inside Intake & Planning and drop it into the list. Rename it with the run focus, assign the QA owner, and set the due date to the target release. Tag any high-risk work with labels like Security focus or Regression risk so engineering can filter instantly. Attach your TestRail or Jira query link right on the card and note the entry criteria in the description. Once the prerequisites are clear, drag the run into Environment Prep.
Pro tip: Keep one card per active run to avoid splitting context across lanes.
Prep the environments together
Use the Environment Prep list to convert database refreshes or seed data tasks into Instaboard tasks so they show checkboxes. Assign owners and due dates for each prep item, then attach runbooks or scripts for easy reuse. Duplicate the Non-Functional Pass template if you need a separate security or performance setup card. Apply the Automation candidate label to the prep card when the work should become a script next cycle. Move the run forward only when every prerequisite card is checked off and the entry criteria are captured on the card.
Run the suites and log evidence
In Test Execution, duplicate the Functional Test Sweep card for each major suite you execute. Drop performance or soak tests onto their own cards so the Performance watch label signals ongoing monitoring. Attach exports, HAR files, or screenshots directly to the cards as soon as you finish a pass. Add automation gaps or exploratory findings as checklist items on the card so they carry into the retrospective. Reassign cards to specialists when you schedule pair testing or domain reviews.
Pro tip: Keeping attachments on the run card means release managers never hunt through chat threads.
Triage fixes with verification cards
When a bug fix arrives, duplicate the Fix Verification Log template, link the bug ID, and move the card into Defect Triage & Fix Verification. Assign the QA doing the retest, set the target verification date, and attach proof like replay videos or log bundles. Use the Customer blocker label when the issue impacts paying users so product sees urgency. Indent follow-up automation tasks beneath the main card to keep context connected. Check off the card once verification passes and add a next-step note if engineering still owes hardening work.
Package sign-off and retrospective
Create an Evidence Packet card as you enter Regression & Sign-off to gather metrics, approvals, and artifacts. Attach the final sign-off doc plus any dashboards that show pass rates. Drag the main run card into this list only once exit criteria are complete so leadership sees a clean handoff. Duplicate the Evidence Packet for the retrospective, tag it with Automation candidate, and add improvement tasks or subtasks before archiving. Keep the board visible after release so the next run clones those cards or duplicates them into your backlog board.
What’s inside
Intake & Planning card templates
Duplicate the Functional Test Sweep card to capture run scope, build details, and risk labels before testing starts.
Environment prep task lane
Convert refresh jobs into Instaboard tasks, assign owners, and attach scripts so prerequisites stay visible.
Execution evidence tracker
Log regression, performance, and exploratory passes with attached exports, dashboards, and notes per card.
Fix verification lane
Move Fix Verification Log cards through triage, attach repro videos, and flag customer blockers instantly.
Sign-off + retrospective cards
Bundle approvals, evidence packets, and improvement tasks so the next run clones a fully proven flow.
Why this works
- Standardize every run by duplicating card templates with built-in checklists and labels
- Expose blockers early by tracking environment prep tasks and evidence on shared cards
- Accelerate release sign-off by packaging logs, exports, and approvals on one Evidence Packet card
- Feed continuous improvement by rolling retrospective tasks forward through duplicate cards
FAQ
How do we handle multiple release trains at once?
Duplicate the Functional Test Sweep card for each release train and tag them with different labels or assignees. Keeping runs in the same pipeline makes cross-team blockers obvious without creating extra boards.
Where should automation follow-ups live?
Indent automation ideas beneath the main execution or verification card and tag them Automation candidate. During the retrospective, duplicate those cards into your backlog board or assign them immediately.
Can this support nightly smoke passes?
Yes. Keep a recurring smoke card in Test Execution, clone it for each date, and attach the nightly results from your monitoring dashboard directly to the card. Use Performance watch or Regression risk labels when a run needs extra eyes the next morning.
What about compliance evidence requests?
The Evidence Packet template sits in Regression & Sign-off with attachments for exports, logs, and approvals so audits have a single card to review. Link that card in your compliance checklist or duplicate it into a compliance board when needed.