Quality Control Assistant

Job Description:

Quality control assistants check that a company's services or products meet necessary standards.

Job Category:

Professional Services

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What you will do:

You could:

make sure required standards and regulations are met
inspect and test products or processes
identify faults or errors
record and tell other people about complaints and fixes
design, review and update quality control policies

Skills:

You’ll need:

the ability to analyse quality or performance
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

As well as:

to be thorough and pay attention to detail
the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
the ability to work well with others (teamwork skills)
excellent verbal communication skills
to be flexible and open to change (adaptability skills)
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
active listening skills

Illustration of employee looking at workspace

Entry Requirements:

To become a Quality Control Assistant, there are no specific subject requirements, but you can focus on subjects that will help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary for this role. Quality control involves ensuring products meet certain standards and specifications. Here are some subjects that can be valuable:

Mathematics: Math skills are essential for measurement, data analysis, and statistical quality control.
Science (Physics or Chemistry): Understanding scientific principles can be valuable, especially when working with quality control in manufacturing or laboratory settings.
Design and Technology (DT): DT subjects can provide insights into the manufacturing process and product design, which can be beneficial for quality control in production environments.
ICT (Information and Communication Technology): Proficiency in using computer applications and data analysis tools is important for managing and analyzing quality control data.
Business Studies: Knowledge of business concepts can be helpful when dealing with quality control processes in a corporate or organizational setting.
English Language: Effective communication skills are necessary for documenting quality control processes and reporting findings.
Geography: Depending on the industry, an understanding of geographical factors may be relevant, such as the sourcing of materials and the distribution of products.

Post School

You can get into this job through:

a university course
an apprenticeship
specialist courses run by professional bodies

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree.

Subjects that cover quality control include:

production management
business and management
manufacturing engineering

Apprenticeship

You could take a Quality Practitioner Higher Apprenticeship which usually takes a year and 2 months to complete.

With this apprenticeship, you could work in any industry or sector that has quality control processes.

Direct Application

You could apply directly for jobs if you have a a lot of experience in other areas, like engineering or health and safety.

Working Hours and Environment:

A typical week consists of 41-43 hours of work. You could be required to work evenings/weekends on shifts.

You could work in a laboratory, in a factory or in an office.

Career Path & Progression:

With experience and training you could become a manager or move into research jobs.

Quality Control Assistant