Manufacturing quality manager vs quality assurance supervisor

The differences between manufacturing quality managers and quality assurance supervisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a manufacturing quality manager, becoming a quality assurance supervisor takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a manufacturing quality manager has an average salary of $121,115, which is higher than the $66,145 average annual salary of a quality assurance supervisor.

The top three skills for a manufacturing quality manager include continuous improvement, lean manufacturing and ISO. The most important skills for a quality assurance supervisor are food safety, product quality, and corrective action.

Manufacturing quality manager vs quality assurance supervisor overview

	Manufacturing Quality Manager	Quality Assurance Supervisor
Yearly salary	$121,115	$66,145
Hourly rate	$58.23	$31.80
Growth rate	3%	3%
Number of jobs	88,190	82,301
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age	48	46
Years of experience	6	2

What does a manufacturing quality manager do?

A manufacturing quality manager ensures the manufacturing processes and products meet minimum standards of quality. In this position, they are required to ensure a certain level of quality is met, understand customer needs and requirements, develop quality control processes that meet the requirements provided, review specifications for products and processes, inspect final products to ensure they comply with legal standards, and set requirements for raw materials from suppliers.

What does a quality assurance supervisor do?

A quality assurance supervisor oversees and leads the quality control operations within a manufacturing plant or similar establishment. They are primarily responsible for crafting and implementing policies that prioritize the efficiency of products or services, supervising and evaluating the performances of the workforce, and setting standards and procedures that align not just with the goals of the company, but the national and international level of production standards. Furthermore, as a supervisor in the field, it is crucial to encourage and shape quality assurance workers into valuable members of the company.

Manufacturing quality manager vs quality assurance supervisor salary

Manufacturing quality managers and quality assurance supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Manufacturing Quality Manager	Quality Assurance Supervisor
Average salary	$121,115	$66,145
Salary range	Between $82,000 And $178,000	Between $46,000 And $94,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	South San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Alaska	Wyoming
Best paying company	Apple	Bristol-Myers Squibb
Best paying industry	Pharmaceutical	Health Care

Differences between manufacturing quality manager and quality assurance supervisor education

There are a few differences between a manufacturing quality manager and a quality assurance supervisor in terms of educational background:

	Manufacturing Quality Manager	Quality Assurance Supervisor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 67%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Manufacturing quality manager vs quality assurance supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between manufacturing quality managers' and quality assurance supervisors' demographics:

	Manufacturing Quality Manager	Quality Assurance Supervisor
Average age	48	46
Gender ratio	Male, 86.8% Female, 13.2%	Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.9% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 13.2% Asian, 9.2% White, 69.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 4.6% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	8%	6%

Differences between manufacturing quality manager and quality assurance supervisor duties and responsibilities

Manufacturing quality manager example responsibilities.

Manage quality assurance inspectors, conduct internal, customer FDA and ISO audits.
Manage initial USDA regulatory visits, working collaboratively with USDA inspectors leading audit preparation and follow-up activities and reports.
Assist with FDA inspection preparation.
Revise and maintain a broken complaint handling and CAPA process.
Conduct, review, and approve process and product CAPA investigations.
Co-Host customer audits, ISO audits and are primary host for contract manufacturing customer.

Quality assurance supervisor example responsibilities.

Assist in achieving ISO certification/training.
Manage GMP regulate quality assurance department to ensure all raw materials and finish products meet quality standards.
Lead product development team to successfully develop components at improve PPAP approval time by implementing better project planning
Conduct and report internal quality system and vendor/supplier audits in accordance with ISO and company quality assurance requirements.
Use of refractometer, micrometer, lab scales, and calipers.
Monitor pre-clinical GLP studies at CRO and intra-departmental sites to ensure protocol/regulatory compliance (Covance).

Manufacturing quality manager vs quality assurance supervisor skills

Common manufacturing quality manager skills

Continuous Improvement, 7%
Lean Manufacturing, 6%
ISO, 6%
Product Quality, 6%
Sigma, 5%
Quality Management System, 5%

Common quality assurance supervisor skills

Food Safety, 8%
Product Quality, 7%
Corrective Action, 6%
GMP, 5%
Customer Service, 5%
Continuous Improvement, 4%

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Manufacturing Quality Manager vs Quality Assurance Supervisor

Updated January 8, 2025

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