5 Skills Required to Start a Career in Quality Management
Having strong quality assurance and quality control skills assists in delivering professional and accurate work for your business and organization. These cutting-edge skills assist people in formal quality assurance roles such as:
- Quality assurance managers
- Quality & Test Engineers
- Quality Control Analysts
- Quality Assurance/Control Inspectors
- As well as employees without official quality assurance duties.
When everyone in an organization strives for excellence at all time, businesses are more likely to deliver the best products and services that meet customers’ specification and satisfaction. This article discusses some common quality assurance/control skills and how you can improve on them to land a job in any quality assurance roles and/or advance your career in quality management.
But first, what is Quality Assurance?
Quality assurance is the process of establishing and maintaining a specified standard of excellence when producing and distributing products or services. This process ensures products and services are reliable, meets the need for which it is designed. The concept started in the manufacturing sector, but it has now spread to most industries. Adhering to quality assurance guidelines has several benefits for a business, including:
- Increased consumer confidence
- Improved business reputation
- Higher efficiency
- Reduced waste and cost
- Reduced need for after-sale support
Skills Required in Quality Management
Ability to work as a part of a team
Quality assurance requires team effort, hence the need to be able to work as a part of a team. You should understand the work in the department where you are assigned and how it impacts your own. This understanding helps you work together to achieve the business’ goals. You may be able to assist your teammates when they are under stress — or delegate tasks to them when you have a high workload — to retain quality standards.
2. Ability to delegate and take the lead
Leadership requires delegation. Effective leadership is the life-blood of any organization. When an organization is made up of highly trained leaders who are able to delegate and train subordinates effectively to achieve results, the organization strives. Quality profession requires acquiring good skills in leadership.
3. Knowledge of quality culture and standards
Understanding quality culture and standards is an essential skill for quality assurance. Employees must work within the standards and policies set by their organization.
4. Knowledge of waste management
The essence of quality assurance/control is to produce products and services that meet customers’ satisfaction. This has to be done in a profitable way such that the organization is able to continue operation.
Quality management should be practiced in such a way as to reduce cost by eliminating process waste through the concept of ‘get-it-right-the-first-time’. Effective quality management assists in reducing process waste and improving overall profitability of the business.
5. Creativity and Improvement-Focus
Everything in life revolves round creativity. The good news is that creative ability can be learned. Business and manufacturing processes can be improved upon. And, quality assurance and control professionals occupy huge position in effecting process improvement.
About the Author
Adebayo is a thought leader in continuous process improvement and manufacturing excellence. He is a Certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt (CSSMBB) Professional and Management Systems Lead Auditor (ISO 9001, 45001, ISO 22000/FSSC 22000 etc.) with strong experience leading various continuous improvement initiative in top manufacturing organizations.
You can reach him here.
