A quality assurance manager supervises and manages the people who ensure that products and services meet customer expectations before they are released to the market. In most cases, he or she is ultimately responsible for the product’s quality throughout its development, from the factory to the market. Meeting customer expectations is also an important aspect of this job.
A QA manager has a variety of responsibilities, which may differ depending on the company for which he or she works. First and foremost, quality assurance managers must establish quality standards. To put it another way, the quality assurance manager determines what standards each product must meet. Second, he or she must ensure that all employees, including inspectors, are aware of the established standards. Communication is critical in this regard.
Testing is another responsibility of a quality assurance manager. Products are tested at this stage to ensure that they meet the previously established standards. Finally, QA managers frequently examine customer feedback to determine whether the set standards were acceptable to the customer and whether the products passed quality inspections. Depending on the products being manufactured, they are also often in charge of ensuring that certain laws are followed.
Quality assurance managers may serve as a liaison between a company’s production development offices, where standards are established, and its corporate offices. They may also participate in strategic planning to help the company become more efficient at producing high-quality products. They may inspect quality with computer software or conduct physical inspections, or they may supervise those who conduct inspections.
Quality assurance managers frequently begin their careers as entry-level quality inspectors or have prior management experience. For those interested in a career in quality management, two-year degree programs are available. Some companies require managers to have four-year degrees, with a bachelor’s degree in either business or engineering being the most common.
QA managers may need licenses or special certifications in addition to possible education requirements, depending on the company. The most important aspect of the job is to meet the customer’s expectations and requirements, as well as all safety regulations. Because quality assurance managers supervise inspectors and test, inspect, and adjust products to ensure that they meet the required standards, attention to detail and administrative experience are also important qualities.