A quality assurance technician is in charge of identifying and correcting errors in the manufacturing process that could result in poor product quality. To succeed in this field, you must be extremely detail-oriented and have excellent problem-solving abilities. Although there is no set educational requirement for becoming a quality assurance technician, most employers prefer to hire people who have at least a bachelor’s degree. After college, you should be able to find work in a variety of manufacturing facilities. As a quality assurance technician, you will be in charge of ensuring the quality and safety of each product that your employer produces.
To become a quality assurance technician, certain personal qualities are usually required. To succeed in this field, manufacturing processes must be continuously monitored to ensure the best finished product, and you must be extremely detail-oriented. To locate and correct any flaws in the process, excellent problem-solving skills are also required. In order to coordinate your activities with workers from other departments, you must also have good communication skills. In order to keep detailed records of your observations and reports of your daily activities, you’ll need good writing skills.
Although educational requirements for this profession vary industry, most employers require at least an associate’s degree in applied science. This two-year degree will prepare you to perform simple inspections and equipment testing providing you with the mathematical and scientific problem-solving skills you’ll need. A bachelor’s degree in engineering, chemistry, or computer science may be required of technicians working in the computer or chemical manufacturing industries. To work in agriculture or food processing, you may need a college degree in food safety management or nutrition. Some colleges offer specialized degrees in quality management or quality assurance, as well as a variety of professional certifications for qualified candidates.
Quality assurance technicians are employed in a variety of industries, including food processing, pharmaceutical and medical-equipment manufacturing, and software development. Food processing technicians ensure that the manufacturing processes are compliant with government standards and safety regulations. Pharmaceutical and medical-equipment manufacturers employ these individuals to ensure that the finished product is safe and accurate for patient use. The automated scripts and use cases used for new software testing are written technicians working in computer software development.
The raw materials and chemical compounds used in the manufacturing process are typically selected and tested quality assurance technicians. These experts frequently use computer programs to interpret test results in order to ensure that raw materials remain viable throughout the manufacturing process. If a material is found to be unsuitable, more research and testing must be done to find an alternative material or process. The equipment used in the manufacturing processes is also evaluated on a regular basis to ensure that it is in good working order and is safe to use.