Quality Technician Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a quality technician. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a quality technician.
Who is a Quality Technician?
A quality technician is a trained professional who checks the quality of products and company processes. A quality technician inspects products to ensure that they meet defined standards for durability, function, customer satisfaction, or any other metric considered a measure of quality by the industry.
To ensure quality levels are met, quality technicians test products at three stages of production (before, in-process, and final).
They keep bad products off the market and collect data from the processes they inspect to ensure that every aspect of a procedure meets industry standards.
The demand for qualified technicians is driven by the need to ensure that goods and services are trustworthy, high-quality, and safe. Quality control is becoming more important as the business competition grows. This is due to consumers becoming more picky and willing to pay more for products that are guaranteed to be of high quality.
Quality technicians are in charge of writing inspection reports, testing manufacturing equipment, developing new methods for testing or inspecting products to ensure they meet quality standards, and analyzing test data. They also work to improve quality control procedures and ensure that Quality assurance tests do not impede production.
It is worthy to note that some employers who hire quality technicians for more complex tasks may require an associate’s degree in quality technology or a closely related field. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) certification can help you advance in your career or attract new employers.
Quality Technician Job Description
Below are the quality technician job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a quality technician job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
A quality technician’s responsibilities in an organization typically include the following:
- Collecting and analyzing product samples, as well as recording data from analysis.
- Writing, interpreting, and putting into practice the organization’s quality standards and procedures.
- Addressing customer concerns and providing solutions.
- Developing new methods for improving production process techniques to ensure high-quality outputs.
- Approving completed goods for market shipment.
- Maintaining safe working conditions and encouraging as well as enforcing cleanliness among employees.
- Assuring that technicians, quality control inspectors, and other team members complete their assigned tasks to the highest standards.
- Avoiding the use of obsolete raw materials in manufacturing.
- Imposing corrective actions to ensure that products meet required specifications
- Performing basic maintenance on tools, machinery, and equipment to ensure that they are in good working order.
- Reviewing the completed product, comparing it to the initial requirements, and accepting or rejecting the finished product that meets quality standards
- Ensuring that manufacturing and production procedures adhere to national and international production standards.
- Reading technical publications, attending seminars, and taking advantage of other educational opportunities to stay current in your field.
- Taking part in research and development initiatives to improve new product manufacturing.
- Following quality testing, and presenting suggestions for product enhancements.
- Launching a safety program for employee training to protect them from workplace hazards and ensuring quality control procedures do not impede production.
- Monitoring the team and the product development process to ensure that the finished product meets all quality, effectiveness, and customer satisfaction requirements.
Qualifications
- Prior experience as a quality technician in any reputable firm is preferred.
- Knowledge of complex mathematical concepts.
- Thorough understanding of legal and quality control standards.
- Excellent computer skills, including the ability to efficiently use Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Strong ability to anticipate problems and propose viable solutions.
- Comprehensive understanding of chemical composition, structure, and interactions.
- Experience as a regulatory inspection and/or audit assistant.
- Knowledgeable about both statistical methods and quality control procedures
Essential Skills
Strong Quality technician skills allow you to produce accurate and professional work for your company. However, those working in this field have the following skill set:
- Technical expertise:
Mechanical aptitude refers to the ability to comprehend and use mechanical devices. Quality technicians must be knowledgeable about the manufacturing process and testing procedures in order to ensure that products meet quality standards. This includes understanding how to operate tools and machines.
- Inspection
The ability to inspect a product to see if it meets quality standards. Quality technicians use inspection skills when testing products, analyzing data and inspecting production processes. This skill necessitates knowledge of industry performance and safety standards, as well as meticulous attention to detail. These standards can be learned through training courses or through hands-on experience with qualified quality technicians.
- Attention to detail
All high-quality technicians must be able to pay close attention to every detail. Your attention to detail ensures that all of your tasks are completed in accordance with the company’s specifications. Correcting seemingly insignificant details on a consistent basis can prevent major problems from developing further down the supply chain. It also eliminates the need to redo or revise tasks in the future to meet requirements.
- Calibrating abilities
Calibration is the process of adjusting equipment to ensure that it is operating properly, and skilled technicians can do this. Quality technicians use this ability to calibrate equipment on a regular basis to ensure accuracy when testing products for flaws or other issues. Quality technicians can ensure that the company they work for produces high-quality products while minimizing waste by detecting flaws in components prior to production.
- Ability to solve problems
Quality technicians solve problems to ensure the quality of a product. They use problem-solving techniques to identify problems, develop solutions, and evaluate the effectiveness of those solutions. Quality technicians use their problem-solving abilities to identify quality issues and ensure product quality. These skills are also used in the development of customer-focused solutions.
- Non-conformance Reporting Skill
Non-conformance reporting is critical for ensuring that goods meet customer expectations. It can help businesses streamline their production processes and cut waste by detecting problems before they become larger problems.
Quality technicians can detect and report deviations from quality standards using non-conformance reporting techniques. This entails determining the root cause of a problem, developing solutions, and putting them into action. Quality technicians use this ability when analyzing data to determine whether processes meet quality standards.
- Teamwork
Given that skilled technicians frequently work in teams with other workers, teamwork is an important skill to have. Quality technicians must be able to work well with others and communicate clearly in order to ensure that everyone on the team understands their roles and responsibilities. They must also be prepared to support one another when necessary.
- Comprehension of Quality Standards
Quality technicians must be familiar with quality standards. Most employees are expected to perform within the parameters established by their employers. You can meet quality expectations by understanding additional important quality standards, such as Food and Drug Administration regulations.
- Auditing
Auditing is the ability to examine and evaluate a company’s records. Quality technicians use this ability to ensure that production methods, machinery, or raw materials are in compliance. By auditing, they can also identify areas for improvement in order to increase productivity and reduce waste.
- Ability to Work with Limited Time
High-level technicians are frequently required to meet production quotas and work under duress. Working under pressure can help you meet your employer’s expectations and complete tasks more quickly.
- Observation Skills
Quality technicians spend the majority of their time evaluating the performance of other individuals or groups before making suggestions for improvements or corrective action. They must collect and record information without interfering with the workers in their environment.
- Sound Judgment and Decision-making Skills
If your quality department is unable to interpret and apply the data to make logical decisions and changes to optimize your products and processes, the data is worthless. As a quality technician, your top priority should be sound judgment and decision-making abilities.
- Time Management
As a quality technician, effective time management ensures that you have enough time to complete your tasks to the desired quality standard and to ensure that they adhere to specifications. It also reduces your stress levels, allowing you to focus on performing your duties with clarity. When you meet your deadlines, you give those who rely on you enough time to complete their work without sacrificing quality.
- Examining Ability
Quality technicians use testing expertise to ensure the quality of a product. They may test a product for flaws and examine test data to determine whether it complies with standards. Quality technicians also test the efficacy of new processes or equipment. To accomplish this, they must be able to operate a variety of machines, including CAD programs that simulate production processes.
How to Become a Quality Technician
If you want to work in the manufacturing industry, a career as a quality technician can be a great place to start. As a quality technician, you will have the opportunity to work on a variety of products and learn about various processes. Those interested in this career path, on the other hand, can get started by following the steps outlined below:
- Get Enrolled for the Necessary Education
Obtaining the necessary education is the first step toward becoming a qualified technician. A good technician should have a bachelor’s degree at the very least before working in this industry. Some excellent technicians hold a master’s degree or a high school diploma rather than a four-year degree. These professionals usually have a bachelor’s degree in business administration, computer technology, or a closely related field. These classes teach students the fundamentals of quality control and how to apply them in a variety of settings.
- Acquire Certification
Although they are not always required, certifications can help you learn about quality control and other related topics. Certification can boost your resume and help you stand out from the crowd. Consider obtaining certification from the American Society for Quality (ASQ) or another recognized organization. Some employers may require the American Society for Quality’s Certified Quality Technician (CQT) certification.
This certification requires four years of education, four years of quality control work experience, and a passing exam score. The exam covers fundamental inspection methods, testing equipment, quality auditing, and corrective measures.
- Gain Experience
The majority of high-quality technicians had prior experience in the field before landing a job. Because you have professional training and experience, you can qualify for a variety of roles. Internships, working as an assistant to a quality technician professional, or doing some entry-level work are all ways to gain experience. Attending workshops, conferences, and seminars is another option. These courses will help you hone your skills as a quality technician professional.
- Create Application Materials
When you’re ready, you can begin assembling your application materials for reputable quality technician jobs. Most employers require you to submit a resume and cover letter when applying for jobs. A cover letter explains why you’re the best candidate for the job, whereas a resume simply lists your qualifications. Make sure to include your education, experience, skills, and certifications in these application materials.
- Pursue Career Advancement
One can advance their career by gaining experience, continuing education, and certifications. Experience alone may be sufficient to advance to higher-level technician positions requiring less supervision. American Society for Quality (ASQ) provides additional relevant certifications in addition to the Certified Quality Technician (CQT) certification. The Certified Quality Engineer certification, for example, necessitates eight years of education and work experience. Three years of decision-making experience, including supervisory positions, are also required for this certification.
Where to Work as a Quality Technician
As a quality technician, you can be employed to work in a variety of industries, including food and beverage, apparel, metals, transportation, textiles, software, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.
Quality technicians in these fields are in charge of ensuring that goods are defect-free and meet certain standards. They work with engineers and other technicians to develop new or improved quality control techniques.
Quality Technician Salary Scale
Quality technicians’ salaries are determined by their level of education, number of years of experience, and the organization for which they work. Bonuses are another form of compensation that they could receive.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Compensation Survey, an entry-level quality technician with less than one year of experience can expect to earn an average total compensation of $32,706 per year.
An entry-level quality technician with 1-4 years of experience can expect to earn an annual salary of $38,447. In the middle of their career, an experienced quality technician earns an average total salary of $48,553. A quality technician with 10 to 19 years of experience earns an average annual salary of $59,595. Employees in their late careers (20 years or more) earn $75,992 per year on average.