Quality assurance manager
Quality manager, quality control manager, quality inspector
Quality assurance managers make sure a company’s products and services meet and maintain set standards.
Salary range: £23,000 to £65,000
How to become a quality assurance manager
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- working towards this role
- applying directly
University
You could do a degree or postgraduate qualification in:
- production management
- business studies
- human resources management
- business administration
You may need a degree that is specific to the industry you want to work in, like:
- science
- construction
- engineering
- pharmaceuticals
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
- a degree in any subject for a postgraduate course
More information
- equivalent entry requirements
- student finance for fees and living costs
- university courses and entry requirements
Work
You could work as a quality control assistant and move into quality assurance management by doing training on the job, for example through the Chartered Quality Institute.
Direct application
You could apply for jobs directly if you’ve got experience in quality control and management from other industries.
More information
Career tips
An understanding of British quality standards and working methods will be useful when applying for jobs in quality control.
Knowledge of business improvement methods like lean management and Six Sigma will also be helpful.
Further information
You can find out more about working in quality management through the Chartered Quality Institute.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- the ability to analyse quality or performance
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- analytical thinking skills
- the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
- concentration skills
- business management skills
- leadership skills
- maths knowledge
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day duties may include:
- using quality assurance software to analyse and improve standards
- reviewing policies and planning how to improve quality management systems
- inspecting and testing products and production processes
- measuring performance and recommending improvements
- making sure policies and procedures meet national and international quality standards
- assessing the effectiveness of changes to processes or production
- managing a team of quality control technicians
- training staff
Working environment
You could work in a factory, in an office or visit sites.
Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.
You may need to wear smart business dress.
Career path and progression
You could move into senior management or work as a freelance quality consultant.
Other options include careers in health and safety, project management and business analysis.