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Where do quality control professionals work?
Quality control professionals or technicians work for every product-based company.
Be it a furniture manufacturing company or a food production company, it will need a quality control inspector to deliver the best quality products.
In 2020, we encountered 557,990 quality control inspectors working across the United States. The statistics might fascinate you to follow this career niche for a bright future.
If you want to become a quality control manager in 2022, these questions will help you throughout your journey:
- What is quality assurance?
- What does a quality control inspector do?
- What is the education required for a quality control inspector in the US?
- What are the essential skills for a quality control manager?
- How much a quality control inspector earns in the United States?
What is Quality Assurance?
Quality assurance is a predefined method to ensure that the final product is up to the quality standards as specified by the user or client.
Generally, the quality analysis of any product is compared with the ISO 9000 international standards. As a result, numerous companies worldwide use ISO 9000 to maintain the quality of their products.
What Does a Quality Control Inspector do?
A quality control inspector examines product quality and filters defects or deviations from industry specifications.
Here are the fundamental duties of a quality control manager:
- Read and understand specifications & blueprints
- Recommend changes in the assembly or process
- Monitor operations to ensure their alignment with production standards
- Inspect, test, and measure new products
- Reject or accept finalized items
- Measure significant products with calipers, micrometers, rulers, or gauges
- Discuss inspection outcomes with the responsible team or person
- Remove the products that do not meet desired specifications
- Report inspection results and test data
Also Read: How to Build a Quality Control Resume in 2022?
Here you can see quality control job descriptions of different level professionals with their duties:
Entry Level Quality Assurance Job Description
Have a glance at the entry-level quality assurance job description to know the real-world responsibilities of a Quality Assurance professional in 2022:
We are looking for a quality assurance tester to support our Quality Assurance department. The ideal QA tester will test digital products before release to keep up the reliability and quality. Being a QA tester, You will assist the Quality Assurance Manager directly. This role includes working with product and development teams to polish your knowledge and skills related to the entire product development cycle.
Additionally, as a QA tester at our company, you will:
- Test products for conformance to the required specifications
- Analyze, identify, and document problems arose while testing the product
- Compare complete product functionality with testing documents and templates
- Analyze testing data and make important calculations to get required results
- Document product defects via a bug tracking system and reporting defects to the development team
- Provide user feedback to the development teams on product functionality and usability
- Notify development teams and supervisors regarding the problems found
- Install, configure, maintain, and use required testing software programs
Mid Level Quality Inspector Job Description
Here is a real-time example of a mid-level quality control inspector job description. It is an aerospace engineering-based position in the United States:
We seek an experienced quality control inspector at our facility to perform quality checks on our aircraft. As a quality control inspector, you will report to the Quality Manager. The perfect fit for this position will accept and inspect completed and in-process flights.
Take a look at the major quality control inspector duties at our company:
- Performing inspections on various product lines, including composites, assemblies, and complex machine parts
- Developing quality control points and inspection plans within the manufacturing process
- Creating standard work instructions for detailed inspections
- Evaluating products and composite structures for acceptance criteria
- Initiating nonconformance process wherever necessary
- Performing safe operations on heavy parts via different inspection tools
Senior Quality Assurance Job Description
Here you can see an example of a senior quality assurance job description. You can check out the responsibilities at the senior profile in this real-time example:
We seek a senior quality assurance professional to inspect our incoming returns, vendor parts, and quality assurance throughout the pre-defined order fulfillment process. As a senior QA inspector, you will have to integrate data in Oracle and follow up on quality issues. In addition, the perfect fit for this position must assist the quality engineering team in rectifying product quality and process concerns.
The major responsibilities assigned with this role are:
- Performing electrical and mechanical testing to ensure product and process quality
- Checking and verifying components quality used via Starkey manufacturing
- Measuring, analyzing, and reporting part details
- Documenting and communicating incoming inspection results
- Monitoring and communicating to the higher authorities about rejected products
- Updating and maintaining flagged item reports in Oracle
- Assisting GDC departments with all the delivery performance issues
Education Required for QC Inspector Jobs
You can apply for quality inspector jobs after getting your high school diploma. You do not need a bachelor’s degree to get an entry-level QC inspector job. However, a degree will emphasize your value in the recruitment process.
The quality assurance degree program focuses on technical communications, manufacturing, safety, reliability, and engineering. You can also find many universities offering online courses in quality assurance.
Top 10 Institutions Offering Quality Control Courses in the United States
You can choose any of these below given institutions of the United States to get a quality control certification and start your journey as a quality control inspector in the United States:
- Parkland College
- Northeastern University
- Virginia Tech
- Florida Institute of Technology
- Temple University
- University of Wisconsin
- Alamo Colleges District
- George Washington University
- Lawrence Technological University
- Stevens Institute of Technology
Also Read: How to Build a QA Tester Resume in 2022?
(Video) With New Car Inventory Still Scarce, Will These New Subaru Quality Control Issues Scare Buyers Off?
Quality Control Manager Certifications
Though it is not mandatory to be a certified professional to become a quality control inspector, getting one can boost your career and add value to your profile.
Here are some certifications that can enhance the effectiveness of your portfolio:
- Certified Quality Auditor | American Society for Quality
- Certified Quality Engineer | American Society for Quality
- Certified Welding Inspector | American Welding Society
- Master Quality Manager | American Academy of Project Management
- Certified Quality Assurance Professional | Mortgage Bankers Association of America
- Certified Manager of Quality | American Society for Quality
Quality Control Inspector Skills
You need to have all the required quality assurance skills to grow professionally as a quality control inspector. Here are some skills that you can learn to beat your competitors:
| Quality Control Inspector Skills | Quality Control Inspector Skills |
|---|---|
| Magnetic Particle Testing | Product Quality Testing |
| Micrometer Measurement | Safety Standards |
| Product Inspection | Quality Assurance |
| ISO Comparison | Data Tracking |
| Inspection Procedures | Raw Material Testing |
| Engineering Drawings | Capability Maturity Model |
Average Quality Control Inspector Salary in The US
The average quality control inspector salary in the United States is $19.20 per hour.
However, the salary can differ based on the company's geographical location and experience of a professional.
Quality Control Inspector Salary by Location in The US
Have a look at the salary difference between different locations of the United States given below:
| City Name | Average Quality Control Inspector Salary (Per Hour) |
|---|---|
| Irvine, CA | $20.84 |
| Chicago, IL | $20.66 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $19.04 |
| Fort Worth, TX | $18.74 |
| Greer, SC | $17.02 |
Quality Control Salaries for Different Profiles in the US
Quality control departments have different profiles that you can attain as per your experience and selected industry.
Here you can see some popular quality control profiles and their salaries in the United States:
| Profile Title | Average Quality Control Salary (Per Hour) |
|---|---|
| Quality Control Inspector | $19.15 |
| Quality Control Supervisor | $20.65 |
| Quality Assurance Analyst | $25.09 |
| Quality Technician | $20.69 |
| Quality Assurance Engineer | $67,329 (Per Annum) |
Key Takeaways
You can apply for QC inspectors jobs after completing your highlight school diploma. These steps will help you grow as a quality control manager in 2022:
- Acquire modern quality assurance skills such as quality inspection etc.
- Get certified to beat your competitors and increase your value as a quality control inspector
- Analyze your targeted quality inspector job description to know the requirements
- Build a resume and apply for your targeted QC inspector jobs with a cover letter
You can use Hiration’s 360-degree Career Service Platform to build an effective quality control resume and cover letter. You will get 24/7 support in this digital tool for a seamless operating experience. For additional career assistance, feel free to reach us at support@hiration.com.
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FAQs
What are the 5 responsibilities of quality control? ›
- Conduct Product Tests and Assessment. The main duty of a quality control specialist is testing and assessing products, usually in an industrial or warehouse setting. ...
- Identify Product Defects. ...
- Record and Report Issues. ...
- Support Process Improvements. ...
- Make Necessary Repairs.
Quality control (QC) is a process through which a business seeks to ensure that product quality is maintained or improved. Quality control involves testing units and determining if they are within the specifications for the final product.
What is the job description for quality control? ›Quality control inspectors remove or discard all products and equipment that fail to meet specifications. Quality control inspectors examine products and materials for defects or deviations from specifications.
What are the 4 types of quality control? ›The four types of quality control are process control, control charts, acceptance sampling, and product quality control.
What are the 3 main objectives of quality control? ›In such a system, there are 3 main objectives of quality control: enhance product quality and reduce risks, gain production efficiencies, and garner customer loyalty. These 3 objectives will be evident in any manufacturer with a robust and functional quality control program.
What are the 8 key principles of quality control? ›- Principle 1: customer focus. ...
- Principle 2: leadership. ...
- Principle 3: people involvement. ...
- Principle 4: process approach. ...
- Principle 5: systematic approach to management. ...
- Principle 6: continual improvement. ...
- Principle 7: factual approach to decision making. ...
- Principle 8: mutually beneficial supplier relations.
- Leadership.
- Organizational and planning.
- Communication.
- Statistical analysis.
- Problem-solving.
- Industry-specific technical knowledge.
QC process assures that that the product being developed is of the required quality. Examples of quality control activities include inspection, deliverable peer reviews and the software testing process.
How do you describe a quality control sample? ›Quality control sample means a sample that is produced and used by a laboratory for the purpose of assuring the quality of the data and results. Quality control samples include blank samples, matrix spike samples, field duplicate samples, replicate samples, and reference material samples.
What are quality control skills? ›Three common soft skills for a quality control are interpersonal skills, leadership skills and problem-solving skills.
What skills do you need to be a quality control specialist? ›
What Skills Should a Quality Control Specialist Have? A quality control specialist will benefit from having strong math, technical, and problem-solving skills. Because someone in this career will be performing routine visual inspections, good eyesight would also be beneficial.
What is Six Sigma rule in quality control? ›Six Sigma is a process that makes use of statistics and data analysis to analyze and reduce errors or defects. In this process, the purpose is to improve cycle times while reducing manufacturing defects to no more than 3.4 defects per million units or events.
What are the 6 steps to a quality control process? ›- Review industry standards. ...
- Choose the most important measures. ...
- Set detailed expectations. ...
- Align processes with outcomes. ...
- Develop training materials. ...
- Review and document data.
These seven basic quality control tools, which introduced by Dr. Ishikawa, are : 1) Check sheets; 2) Graphs (Trend Analysis); 3) Histograms; 4) Pareto charts; 5) Cause-and-effect diagrams; 6) Scatter diagrams; 7) Control charts.
What are the 3 C's of quality? ›We've divided them into three related categories: completeness, correctness, and clarity.
What are the 4 steps of quality control? ›When broken down, quality control management can be segmented into four key components to be effective: quality planning, quality control, quality assurance, and quality improvement.
What are the seven 7 different outputs of quality control process? ›These seven basic quality control tools, which introduced by Dr. Ishikawa, are : 1) Check sheets; 2) Graphs (Trend Analysis); 3) Histograms; 4) Pareto charts; 5) Cause-and-effect diagrams; 6) Scatter diagrams; 7) Control charts.
How do you write a quality control report? ›- Actionable conclusions. Summarize your work and findings. Say if the quality of the tested product is good or bad, based on the test results. ...
- Risks. List the risks you identified during the quality assessment of the product.
- Recommendations. Write down your tips on how to improve the quality of the tested product.
- Independence, Integrity, and Objectivity.
- Personnel Management.
- Acceptance and Continuance of Clients and Engagements.
- Engagement Performance.
- Monitoring.
Create a constant purpose toward improvement.
Plan for quality in the long term. Resist reacting with short-term solutions. Don't just do the same things better – find better things to do. Predict and prepare for future challenges, and always have the goal of getting better.
Why should we hire you as QC? ›
The skills and qualities I possess that will make me effective in this quality control job position include, confidence in my abilities, outstanding technical skills, a thorough understanding of the quality control process and how it fits into a variety of different scenarios, good leadership, planning, and ...
What is the basic knowledge of QC? ›Quality control (QC) is a procedure or set of procedures intended to ensure that a manufactured product or performed service adheres to a defined set of quality criteria or meets the requirements of the client or customer. QC is similar to, but not identical with, quality assurance (QA).
What is the most important part of quality control? ›Compliance with quality standards—such as those enshrined in ISO 9001—is a key part of quality control. According to these standards, quality control is focused on three aspects: Job management, controls, clearly defined and well managed processes, performance criteria, and identification of records.
What are the two main focuses of quality control? ›Quality control focuses on testing if products meet quality standards. It includes constant company testing and inspection processes to ensure quality control. Conversely, quality assurance involves the process of providing confidence to relevant stakeholders that a company adheres to quality requirements.
How do you answer interview question about quality control? ›Example answer: "I believe that of the most important characteristics of quality control are to deliver products with high quality and to always improve quality by using processes from other organizations.
What are the 5 definitions of quality? ›Five major approaches to the definition of quality can be identified: (1) the transcendent approach of philosophy; (2) the product-based approach of economics; (3) the user-based approach of economics, marketing, and operations management; and (4) the manufacturing-based and (5) value-based approaches of operations ...
What is another word for quality control? ›cross-check, quality assurance, review, survey, vetting.
What is an example of Six Sigma in quality control? ›There are many examples of this, using inexpensive and handy day-to-day materials, recycling of the materials, increasing the speed of each cycle, reducing and then eliminating of factory defects. Six Sigma will overall increase customer satisfaction and customer service as the product quality will enhance drastically.
Which are the 7 QC tools? ›- Stratification.
- Histogram.
- Check sheet (tally sheet)
- Cause and effect diagram (fishbone or Ishikawa diagram)
- Pareto chart (80-20 rule)
- Scatter diagram.
- Control chart (Shewhart chart)
7QC tools are extensively used in various Problem Solving Techniques which are listed below: 8D Problem Solving Methodology. PDCA Deming Cycle for Continuous improvement in product and processes. Lean Manufacturing for 3M Waste elimination from processes.
What are the 7 QC tools and its uses? ›
What are the 7 basic QC tools? Scatter diagrams, Pareto charts, control charts, histograms, stratification, fishbone diagrams and check sheets.
What are the 5 steps of quality control? ›- Review industry standards. Research common quality standards for the item or service for which you're creating the QC process. ...
- Choose the most important measures. ...
- Set detailed expectations. ...
- Align processes with outcomes. ...
- Develop training materials. ...
- Review and document data. ...
- Gather and apply feedback.
- Product requirements.
- Packaging requirements.
- On-site tests and checks.
- Defect classification.
- Collaboration between the importer, supplier and QC staff.
Examples of quality control activities include inspection, deliverable peer reviews and the software testing process.
What are the 7 key principles of quality? ›- Engagement of people.
- Customer focus.
- Leadership.
- Process approach.
- Improvement.
- Evidence-based decision making.
- Relationship management.
When broken down, quality control management can be segmented into four key components to be effective: quality planning, quality control, quality assurance, and quality improvement.
What are the three main sub areas of quality control? ›- Off-line quality control,
- Statistical process control and.
- Acceptance sampling plans.
- Customer focus.
- Leadership.
- Engagement of people.
- Process approach.
- Improvement.
- Evidence-based decision making.
- Relationship management.
Quality control (QC) is a procedure or set of procedures intended to ensure that a manufactured product or performed service adheres to a defined set of quality criteria or meets the requirements of the client or customer.
What is 5S quality? ›Quality Glossary Definition: Five S's (5S) 5S is defined as a methodology that results in a workplace that is clean, uncluttered, safe, and well organized to help reduce waste and optimize productivity. It's designed to help build a quality work environment, both physically and mentally.