How to become A Quality Control Inspector

The favourite pair of jeans you wear to parties, the candy you eat on Halloween, your skincare products or anything else you choose to buy! What do they all have in common? They have been examined by Quality Control (QC) Inspectors who ensure that any product you obtain is of high quality and in line with your expectations.

• Quality Assurance Auditor (QA Auditor)
• Quality Assurance Inspector (QA Inspector)
• Quality Assurance Technician (QA Technician)
• Quality Control Technician (QC Technician)
• Quality Auditor
• Quality Inspector
• Quality Technician
• Test Technician
• Inspector

What would Quality Control Inspectors do?

A Quality Control Inspector would typically need to:

• Keep tabs on the quality standards of almost all manufactured products from food to motor vehicles to computers to construction material
• Study plans, blueprints and specifications to understand the product requirements; inspect, test or measure material, products, equipment, and work for compliance with standard metrics
• Reject incoming damaged raw material and immediately notify managers or other personnel about the issue
• Measure and inspect the products with hand-held instruments, electronic inspection equipment and electrical gadgets to ensure their quality meets industry standards
• Reject defective products that fail to meet standard specifications; mark products with grades or acceptance-rejection status before shipping; adhere to shipping deadlines
• Offer recommendations to improve the production process and thereby the quality of the product
• Report equipment malfunctions to relevant stakeholders
• Frequently look at customer satisfaction levels regarding the product; meet with customer representatives to receive any feedback and adjust the product accordingly
• Document the inspection process, include performance records and detailed reports on data such as weights, temperatures, grades, moisture content, and quantities inspected
• Train and manage the quality assurance team; design, develop and implement a standardised protocol

Whether Quality Control Inspectors spend a significant part of their workday in offices, labs, factories, or other production facilities depends on the kind of industry they work in. Likewise, whether they are on their feet all day and lifting heavy items or sitting down to read computer printouts of data will also depend on the type of employer.

Either way, you will be working in an environment where teamwork and communication are essential. Overnight travel may be required to conduct supplier audits, discuss the quality plans for the product and visit customers.

Most inspectors work regular business hours from 9 am to 5 pm, although work over evenings or weekends may be necessary for some. You may need to work overtime to meet project deadlines. Seniority plays a big role in shift assignments.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Quality Control Inspectors can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Quality Control Inspectors are generally employed by:

• The Food Industry
• Pharmaceutical Corporations
• The Apparel Industry
• Furniture Manufacturers
• Aeronautical Firms
• Appliance Manufacturers
• The Electronics Manufacturing Industry
• Vehicle Manufacturers

Professional associations and organisations, such as the International Society of Automation (ISA), are crucial for Quality Control Operators interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Exhaustion from standing continuously for 10-12 hours; physically demanding and repetitive tasks which include lifting heavy weights
• Stress due to the importance of the job; making mistakes can negatively affect the company and the customers
• Having to be exact and take accurate measurements to assess the quality of the products properly
• Exposure to distracting noise levels, sounds and hazardous conditions, including extreme temperatures and weather

A work placement, internship or a year out in the industry will help you gain valuable work experience. Work shadowing an experienced Quality Control Inspector will yield the same results while giving you an insider’s view of the profession.

You may also begin as an entry-level technician and gain adequate experience and expertise before progressing to higher positions. Postsecondary training programs are also available, although most employers prefer training candidates on-the-job.

Academic qualifications for Quality Control Inspectors vary depending on the employers. A high school diploma is sufficient for individuals who choose to perform simple pass/fail product tests.

Colleges offer associate degrees in quality control management for prospective manufacturers who must learn to manipulate complex equipment and software applications before using automated inspection methods.

Where industry-specific qualifications are deciding factors, a bachelor’s degree in food science and technology, engineering and manufacturing, physical/mathematical/applied science, polymer science technology, and textile technology will help you gain employment.

A degree in business management with quality management modules will be a good starting point for a quality manager career.

If your employer accepts Higher National Diplomas, you might want to focus on subjects such as production, materials science, and printing & clothing technology.

Employers prefer candidates who have studied industrial trades such as computer-aided design (CAD) in high school or post-secondary vocational programs. Such candidates would have specialised training in the skills required for their field.

Certification is not required, but qualification as a certified Quality Control Inspector from a reputed and objective organisation will enhance your market value and career opportunities. You will need a specific amount of experience and pass an exam to earn the certification.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive the career progression of Quality Control Inspectors. As you gain experience, you could become a Supervisor, Team Leader, Trainer or Quality Control Engineer.

There may be scope to progress into quality management roles in production management, technical sales or auditing management systems. Promotion to the position of a Quality Control Director or an Operations Manager may well prove to be the highlight of your career.

Small firms or trainers might employ experienced self-employed Quality Control Inspectors as Consultant.

Candidates who have desirable knowledge of production and processing, quality control analysis, and customer/personal service in their chosen field should have a competitive edge in the job market.

By and large, Quality Control Inspectors receive a month- to a year-long on-the-job training which may include the use of special instruments, quality control techniques, blueprint reading, and reporting.

The type of industry you work in will define the specifics, but safety protocols, essential company policies and compliance with government regulations are common to most training programs.

Quality inspires Loyalty

When Quality Control Inspectors ensure the production of a high-quality product, satisfied customers will likely continue to buy for the same company, becoming loyal customers and further increasing the companies profits. Occasional meetings with the customer representatives to receive any further feedback and adjust or modify the product accordingly are standard.

Tools of The Trade - Software

Quality Control Inspectors should be familiar with essential software such as Microsoft Outlook, Skype and IBM Notes.

Mathematical computing software such as MATLAB and statistical software such as Minitab are also valuable tools.

Computer-aided design software, including Autodesk AutoCAD and Mastercam Design, should help with product design and damage detection.

To operate production or inspection machines, knowledge of industry software such as Coordinate measuring machine software and Wilcox Associates PC-DMIS Inspection Planner would prove valuable.

Tools of The Trade - Hardware

Using hand-held devices such as callipers and alignment gauges is becoming less common; Quality Control Inspectors increasingly prefer electronic inspection equipment such as coordinate-measuring machines (CMMs) and three-dimensional (3D) scanners. In addition, those testing electrical devices may use voltmeters, ammeters and ohmmeters.

Types of Quality Control Inspectors

The diverse phases of product manufacturing require a different kind of Quality Control Inspector to monitor the process and assess the product quality at each stage. Your skills and experience play a huge part in determining whether you will be in pre-production (PPI), first article inspection (FAI), during production inspection (DPI), pre-shipment inspection (PSI), or container loading inspection (CLI) position.

To test the quality and safety of a new car model, car companies crash the car. The crash test helps evaluate the seatbelt and airbag quality of the vehicle.

Their entire job revolves around ensuring customer satisfaction - every commercial product that gains popularity owes a significant portion of its customer loyalty to Quality Control Inspectors, who are the quintessential yardsticks of quality.

Learn what it takes to keep the workstations assigned to you clean according to your contract specifications and then train other stakeholders to use the most efficient cleaning process.