The quality control technician’s job is to ensure that a wide range of manufactured products, such as electronics, textiles, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, clothing, food, and other consumer goods, meet certain quality standards. The majority of quality control technicians are hired after completing on-the-job training or gaining experience in a specific phase of the manufacturing process. Some technicians, for example, may only be responsible for visually inspecting parts as they enter the assembly line, while others may be responsible for testing or calibrating the final products. Although a high school diploma is usually the only requirement for becoming a quality control technician, further training and certification can greatly improve advancement opportunities.
To begin, it should be noted that advances in engineering translate to more automated inspection methods, necessitating the hiring of more quality control inspectors and safety technicians to operate and program the software and equipment required to run these automated processes rather than manual inspections. Many candidates are supplementing their industrial arts education and training with a focus on learning how to program and use computer-aided systems in order to meet this challenge. Because they are used to compile and report statistical data related to operational and safety issues, a basic understanding of various software applications is also desirable.
Many quality control technicians get their education and training while still in high school enrolling in vocational courses. Others take adult education classes to learn how to become a quality control technician. There are also organizations that offer specialized training and certification in this field. The American Society for Quality, for example, offers more than a dozen quality control certifications in the United States. While each level of certification has its own set of requirements, they all require a certain number of years of field experience and the passing of a written or practical exam.
In order to work as a quality control technician, you’ll need more than just training and certification. Applicants should, in general, have a mechanical aptitude, strong math skills, good hand-eye coordination, and excellent communication skills. Ability to interpret blueprints, design specifications, and product formulas, as well as the ability to implement inspection procedures and quality assurance protocols, are all desirable qualifications. Advancement from quality control technician to quality control inspection or testing, and, with the right educational credentials, quality control management, is common.