The best organizations traditionally provide a robust number quality management jobs. You might think that in the age of artificial intelligence and with the ability to produce products within extremely tight tolerances using robotics, the need for Quality Managers would be greatly diminished. But you only have to look at the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a government agency that keeps an eye out for faulty products, to see that every year, several products are recalled, and according to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) database, food and cosmetic recalls can number in the hundreds.
Organizations need someone whose sole focus is the quality of the goods and services produced, so while the work within quality management systems has changed, the need for Quality Managers has never been stronger. To give yourself an edge over the competition, tailor your resume to the quality manager job posting. A resume writing service can assist you with this.
What is a Quality Manager?
A Quality Manager oversees the services and products of their company to ensure organizational standards are maintained. Quality Managers are expected to provide training with respect to company policies, standards, and practices. Additionally, they make sure that all employees adhere to company policies.
A properly devised quality management function permeates all aspects of an organization. Quality Management professionals must view themselves as gatekeepers of corporate culture as it relates to quality. They help integrate quality performance into all aspects of the organization’s activity, from start to finish, with everyone shouldering a portion of the responsibility.
What is a Quality Manager Responsible For?
Quality Managers are accountable for developing a quality control process, creating up-to-date product specifications, understanding regulatory standards, and ensuring that the applicable criteria are met. Quality Managers must supervise people, check product development and manufacturing processes, document production results, and provide analysis for identifying opportunities for improvement. They also perform audits of quality systems and develop recommendations for process improvements. People in quality management jobs are always point people for training related to quality standards.
Quality Managers must use a variety of technical skills and attributes to be successful in their positions. Such skills include being results-driven with good attention to detail and possession of excellent communication abilities. Candidates for quality management careers should also have the following:
- strong organizational skills
- exceptional leadership skills
- computer know how
- understanding of regulatory requirements
- data analysis acumen
Before applying for a quality management position, be sure your resume highlights the skills above. If you’re not sure how to do this, consider hiring a resume writing service.
Where Does a Quality Manager Work?
Quality Management professionals work in many types of industries, organizations, and physical environments. There are times when Quality Managers work continuously in bench assignments, conducting tests and writing reports within offices. Sometimes they must travel to company locations or work in a shop floor environment while overseeing production processes or new product development activities. Given the technical nature of quality management work, there is a never-ending requirement to attend training, either locally, online, or in a distant city.
Quality Managers often have a unique mix of leadership skills, technical knowledge, and a formal educational background that opens a wide range of options in terms of their career path. Quality Management professionals can be found in manufacturing, foodservice, healthcare, information technology, engineering, transportation, and education.
What Other Career Options are Available to a Quality Manager?
People with quality management careers have a variety of career options, depending upon individual background and experience. The following are possible options:
- Manager — Customer Experience and Engagement
- Director — Total Quality Management (TQM)
- Manager — Environmental Management Systems
- Food Safety Inspector
Quality Management professionals may also have skills lending themselves to consider work as a Metrology Technician, Project Management Professional, Product Development Manager, Quality Assurance Manager, Risk Management Professional, Statistical Process Control (SPC) Specialist, Statistician, and as a Trainer of International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
What Degree is Required to Become a Quality Manager? What Do They Study?
Candidates for quality management jobs must have a bachelor’s degree in fields having synergies with quality control, such as business administration, mathematics, or one of the sciences. Successful candidates often need analytical and problem-solving skills and communication skills so that they can successfully explain industry standards. Often, other requirements are needed and those include systems management, measurements, and business management. Although advanced degrees are not required, many candidates often have them, especially a Masters of Business Administration (MBA).
Some organizations follow ISO standards and require Quality Managers to maintain a knowledge of specifications pertaining to their business. Standard certifications frequently required of Quality Management professionals include the Quality Assurance and Lean Six Sigma Certifications. Quality Assurance Certification requires an individual to focus on organizational and management skills and develop knowledge of their industry specifications. Lean Six Sigma Certification[4] is a project management methodology with global recognition for effectiveness/efficiency by focusing on manufacturing output, as well as products and services.
How Much Money Does a Quality Manager Earn?
People who work in quality management jobs are paid based upon the amount of job responsibility they’ve carried and type of work experience. Larger companies with higher demands for quality assurance and managing large projects will compensate Quality Management professionals at a higher rate and expect more experience. Entry-level quality management jobs in smaller companies usually earn a lower salary. Pay for Quality Management professionals extends from $33,000 for entry-level positions to as high as $173,000 for upper-level management positions. The mean salary for this category is $89,000 annually.
In summary, to launch a quality management career, a candidate must have earned a bachelor’s degree, gained relevant work experience, earned certifications (if applicable), and appropriately prepared their resume. Someone with a passion for doing things right and who has strong customer focus and engagement abilities will find work as a Quality Manager to be meaningful and rewarding. Given the complexity of work, candidates pursuing a quality management career would benefit from the knowledge and expertise of a professional resume writer when assembling their resume.