Quality Manager
What is the work like?
As a quality manager, you would be responsible for setting up and monitoring systems to control the quality of products or services.
You could work in almost any industry, from manufacturing to service industries and commerce. You might be involved in improving product quality, or streamlining working practices within a company. Across all sectors, the aim is to achieve a standard of product or service that satisfies customer requirements.
Your tasks might include:
- measuring performance against in-house and external standards
- reviewing existing policies and planning how to improve quality management systems (QMS)
- looking at any areas of weakness and recommending ways to improve
- inspecting, sampling and testing products and production processes
- making sure that policies and procedures meet national standards such as Investors in People
- consulting with staff and working with training departments to put plans into effect
- reviewing and assessing the effectiveness of changes
- working closely with other managers and departments.
You would use various methods and software such as Total Quality Management (TQM) or Six Sigma to analyse and improve quality or productivity. In the manufacturing industry, you might also manage a team of quality control technicians.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
To become a quality manager, you will need proven experience in management or quality control in your industry. You may have an advantage with a degree or postgraduate qualification in quality management or business studies. For certain industries, you might need a relevant degree such as engineering or production manufacturing.In manufacturing, engineering or scientific industries, you could start a quality control technician and work your way up to management as you gain experience. It may help your promotion prospects to study for a relevant BTEC HND or degree, or for professional exams from the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) or Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
What further training and development can I do?
You would usually receive training in company procedures when you start your job as a quality manager, followed by any formal in-house or external courses that you might need. Some organisations offer graduate training schemes for new entrants.You may get the opportunity to gain a recognised professional qualification in quality management. Relevant qualifications include:
- Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) Level 3 Certificate in Quality (for people new to quality control)
- CQI Level 5 Diploma in Quality
- Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Diploma in Quality Management
- NVQ levels 2 to 5 in Business Improvement Techniques.
See each organisation's website for more details about their qualifications.
You would also find it useful to become familiar with the national and international quality standards that are relevant to your job, for example:
- ISO 9000 – the most widely recognised standard for Quality Management
- ISO 14001 – Environmental Management System (EMS) standards
- BS 7799 – Information Security Management System (ISMS) standards, for protecting a company's data and information.
For more information on standards and training, visit the British Standards Institution (BSI) website.
You should keep your knowledge and skills up to date throughout your career. CQI offers a wide range of short courses in all areas of quality management to help you with this – see their website for details.
Where can I go for more information?
Management HouseCottingham Road
Corby
Northants
NN17 1TT
Tel: 01536 204222
London
W4 4AL
London
SW1X 7EE
Tel: 020 7245 6722
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Salaries are usually between £22,000 and £40,000 a year.
- Top salaries can reach £50,000 to £60,000.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would be office-based, although in manufacturing you might spend some of your time checking work in a quality control lab or on a factory production line.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- an analytical and logical approach
- strong spoken and written communication skills
- the ability to motivate staff
- good negotiating skills
- planning and project management skills
- IT and mathematical ability, for interpreting figures and statistics
- customer focus and good business sense
- familiarity with a range of quality standards and models
- relevant technical skills (in industries like engineering or manufacturing).
What opportunities are there?
You could work for large companies or public sector organisations, or you might be employed by management consultancies to work with various clients. Fixed-term contract work for a particular project is common.
Jobs may be advertised in:
- local and national newspapers
- trade magazines and websites for your particular industry
- the CQI website and their publication Quality World
- specialist recruitment agencies.
Opportunities are good, as more and more companies want to meet quality standards in order to prove their competitiveness and win business.
With experience you could move into senior management, or work as a freelance consultant.
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