Becoming a Quality Control Manager

Quality control is very important for all organizations which deal in the production or sale of products and services. Quality control ensures that any product or service meets the quality standards that have been set up. This also ensures that goods and services provided to customers are of the best quality. When an organization provides quality products and services, the brand image and the goodwill of the organization improves and it is able to increase the number of customers that are catered to. Quality control is also necessary to ensure that the goods or services provided are reliable.

With the increase in awareness among customers about the quality of products that they use, quality control has become mandatory for every organization. Every organization requires quality control staff to ensure that the products meet the quality standards. This has also led to an increase in the job opportunities that are available in the quality control department of any organization. The career prospects of quality control managers are very good.

A quality control manager is the one who manages all activities that are involved in ensuring that a particular product or service is of the required standard. This manager also has to ensure that activities take place in a sequential manner so that the quality is not compromised in any manner. A quality control manager also has several other responsibilities. He has to coordinate with other managers of the organization including production manager and the technical engineers to ensure that the quality of the product meets the necessary standards. The manager is also responsible for motivating the employees to work hard to achieve the required standards.



The manager has to set various objectives and goals to achieve the quality of the products. This manager is also responsible for implementing plans that have been set up for achieving good quality products. A quality control manager has to prepare various technical reports related to product quality. Once the products have been manufactured, the quality control manager has to ensure that all products are made to go through quality control tests. This manager has to arrange for the technical training necessary for quality control and ensure that all employees get this training.

Quality control managers are hired by almost all types of organizations including manufacturing, chemical, textile, pharmaceutical, engineering, food, and several other industries that cater to the needs of various types of customers.

A quality control manager must at least be a graduate in the field in which the manager gets a job. The managers can be graduates in any of the following subject areas:

• Textile technology
• Business or management studies
• Production
• Engineering
• Applied sciences

Post graduate degrees are not necessary, but any person with a post graduate degree has a better chance of holding a job as a quality control manager. Prior experience may or may not be required depending upon the policy of the organization.

These types of managers are required to have several skills to ensure that they can work to the best of their capabilities. These skills include:

• Excellent communication skills
• Motivational skills
• Technical skills
• Organizational skills
• Analytical skills
• Problem solving skills
• Good numerical and statistical skills
• Ability to work as a part of a team
• Interpersonal skills

Training is often required to improve the skills of these managers. Training is also provided so as to enable quality control managers to gather technical and practical knowledge, and to show how quality control works. Training can be provided on the job or these managers can be asked to undergo training from an institution. Training is provided through projects and hands on work.

Salaries for quality control managers are generally on the higher side. The salary varies according to the size of the organization and the responsibilities that the manager has been given. Working conditions are generally good. Most of the times, managers have to work in offices or laboratories. Working hours may vary but are generally comfortable.

Quality control managers have very good career development prospects. If they do well they get promoted to higher levels within the organization and a few may even be able to make it to the board level.

The emphasis on quality control has increased over the last few years and therefore a career in QAQC is often considered to be a very viable option.

Once a person is employed in a company as a manager, he can gain experience as well as earn more with time.