Finding Job Assurance in Quality Assurance

Just in February of las year, the U. S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission reported the follow companies have recalled defective products:


·
Pier 1 Imports recalled golden tea lights due to
a fire hazard
·
B.O.B. Trailers recalled jogging strollers due
to a strangulation hazard
·
Le Creuset recalled glass lids due to a laceration hazard
·
Recreational Equipment, Inc., recalled 160 Novar bicycles due to a possible fall hazard


How could these products be unleashed on the public with such safety hazards? If you have a
combination of super hero, CSI and Mentalist capabilities, you may be drawn to a career in Quality Assurance. These individuals work with companies to ensure that quality standards are established and adhered to in manufacturing, design, production and distribution. A recent Google search brought up 104 jobs in the Philadelphia area in Quality Assurance, Quality Engineering and Quality Inspection, so if you have what it takes, QA could be an interesting and fulfilling job.


You’ll need at least a college degree in math, chemistry, industrial engineering, manufacturing operations, or equivalent work experience to be considered. Knowledge or experience in quality management systems, ISO 9001, Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing is a plus. Here are some of the different types of jobs in Quality Assurance:


1.  Quality Engineer – a degree in engineering, math or statistics is a requirement. You will
be analyzing manufacturing processes, gathering and analyzing data and making suggestions for improvement to processes to improve product quality. A love for detail and the ability to see the big picture are necessary for success in this job. You’ll be working as a team member with
various levels of an organization, so you need great people skills, too.


2.  Quality Assurance Manager – You’ll need to have the skills of a quality engineer since you’ll be managing operations teams responsible for implementing quality systems. In addition, you’ll be focused on the quality systems that are utilized as guides for the QA teams. Knowledge of various quality management systems, such as ISO 9001 or Six Sigma and how they relate to the organization’s quality goals and processes is essential for successfully managing the quality process.


3.  Loss Prevention Investigator – Get your best Sherlock Holmes on. This position
requires great analytical and investigative skills and experience. A background in criminal science or law enforcement is a plus. This job requires data gathering, surveillance and analysis.


One position even required some international travel. Can you say, “James Bond?”


These are only a few positions in this exciting field. If quality and protecting the general public
appeals to your humanitarian instincts and your values, you may find a rewarding, lucrative and exciting career in quality assurance. Have you found other exciting career fields? Share your search results in the Comments section below.


Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a consultant, blogger, motivational speaker and freelance writer for phillyjobs.com. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in Training magazine, Training & Development magazine, Supervision, BiS Magazine and The Savannah Morning News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys singing with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and helping clients reinvent their careers for today’s job market. You can read more of her blogs at phillyjobs.com and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.