Every day, we are surrounded by a vast array of manufactured goods. Smartphones and headphones. Cars and highways. Kitchen appliances, medical devices, and entertainment systems. We can thank all the dedicated manufacturing workers out there who bring these products to life. Some of these workers, such as quality control inspectors, oversee the production of these essential goods.
What does a quality control inspector do, exactly? These professionals ensure that manufactured goods are produced at industry standards and meet required specifications, so that we can use them safely and effectively each day.
If you are looking for an important role in manufacturing and you have a keen eye for detail and top-quality goods, a role as a quality control inspector may be for you. The quality control field ensures that only acceptable, functional, and quality products are distributed to businesses and consumers. Read on, as we answer your question, “What does a quality control inspector do?”
What is a Quality Control Inspector?
A quality control inspector is responsible for monitoring the quality of incoming and outgoing products for manufacturing companies.
Quality control inspectors, also called quality controllers (QC) are members of a control audit team that examine manufacturing processes and operational techniques. These professionals ensure that the products made in a facility conform to industry, company, and consumer expectations – and do so consistently. They discard any products that do not meet given standards. With the ultimate goal of minimizing cost and maximizing efficiency, manufacturing quality inspectors maintain customers’ loyalty and the company’s overall reputation.
Quality controllers work side-by-side with quality auditors. QCs receive guidelines and specifications to be tested from quality auditors. After examining a product’s appearance and functionality, quality controllers write assessments to quality auditors offering corrective feedback if the quality of a product is compromised in any way. Quality controllers will then follow up with any updated processes put in place by quality auditors to avoid any future defects.
Duties of a Quality Control Inspector
Quality control inspectors oversee order and productivity within their organization, in addition to product quality. On a daily basis, you can find QC inspectors:
- Reading blueprints and specifications
- Monitoring operations to ensure that they meet production standards
- Recommending adjustments to the assembly or production process
- Inspecting, testing, or measuring materials or products being produced
- Measuring products with rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers
- Operating electronic inspection equipment and software
- Accepting or rejecting finished items
- Removing all products and materials that fail to meet specifications
- Reporting inspection and testing data such as weights, temperatures, grades, moisture content, and quantities inspected
Quality control inspectors monitor quality standards for nearly all manufactured products, including food, clothing, glassware, electronics, computers, and structural steel.
What Does it Take to Become a Quality Control Inspector?
A quality control inspector plays a critical role within the manufacturing industry. They help products and companies succeed and stay afloat. When a product lacks quality, the customers are not happy and the business, in turn, suffers. It is up to the quality control inspector to ensure that standards are met, and that quality is always a top priority. This requires a special set of skills.
Quality control inspectors should have:
- An eye for detail, to catch defects.
- Experience with quality management systems (QMS).
- Math skills – data reporting, measuring, calibrating, and calculating specifications are just some of the many skills you should possess.
- Critical thinking skills, to help work through customer problems and production issues, as well as develop strategies for improving product quality.
- Physical strength and stamina, as the job requires time on the feet.
- Ability to read blueprints, technical documents, and manuals.
- A desire to achieve the best and ensure top-quality products.
Of course, many of the skills listed above cannot come without a technical manufacturing education. It is for this reason that aspiring quality control inspectors have at least some postsecondary education in the field.
If you are looking to become a quality control inspector, you can do so through Goodwin University’s manufacturing and machining school.
Our Associate Degree in Quality Management Systems can prepare you with the technical skills you need to succeed as a professional upon graduation. This program will also prepare you for a variety of roles in quality control, beyond that of a quality control inspector:
And more!
Manufacturing employers today desire top quality candidates. If you are interested in launching a successful quality management career, start here at Goodwin. Call 800-889-3282 to learn about our programs, or visit us online to request more information.
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.