A quality engineer’s job description varies industry and even within companies. A quality engineer with an engineering degree typically spends his or her day ensuring that the company’s processes are running smoothly and to the required specifications. An engineer in this position frequently works to improve processes and train operators in the required procedures.
Engineers with good qualifications can work in a variety of fields. Typically, an engineer supervises a manufacturing system that produces a product, such as pharmaceuticals, technological devices, or clothing. The company pays him or her to ensure that the manufacturing and other support processes run smoothly.
A quality engineer may spend the majority of his or her day inspecting and testing the manufacturing process’s engineering integrity. When a fault occurs or a potential threat to the process’ efficiency exists, the engineer can intervene and organize a strategy to correct and improve the situation. Most quality engineers are interested in areas where the process can be improved, and they can spend part of their day identifying such segments of the company and developing strategies to improve them.
In most cases, manufacturing processes must adhere to industry standards. As a result, the engineer must be familiar with the standards and be able to work within certain legal constraints. When a product fails to meet the specifications, the inspector must first be able to spot the flaw and then determine what caused it. Some quality engineer positions are not in the field of production, but rather in the research stage of a product, where the first step to commercial production is figuring out a usable and efficient process.
A quality engineer’s job may include other, less technical aspects in addition to solid engineering knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge to processes. Dealing with suppliers and customers is a common part of the job. If the engineer must present reports to supervisors or work as part of a team, interpersonal skills may be required. When interdepartmental cooperation is required to make a production change, teamwork can be especially beneficial.
A quality engineer must have a minimum of an associate’s degree, which takes two years to complete. A bachelor’s degree is required for many jobs, and some may require additional training, such as a master’s degree. People seeking quality engineer positions may benefit from prior industry experience in a role related to quality control.