What does an operations/quality manager do?

An operations/quality manager is an individual who implements and manages an ISO quality program and communicates with the entire operation management to improve the operational and departmental objectives of an organization. Operations/quality managers must develop and deploy a strategic plan that includes continuous process improvement and employee training. They are required to develop new quality control (QC) test procedures and train technicians to perform tests to ensure that all plants meet customer quality expectations. Operations/quality managers must also conduct productivity reviews and best practice analysis to be presented to the organization's management.
Operations/quality manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real operations/quality manager resumes:
- Lead and train co-workers to understand & achieve skills that would help them perform tasks meeting FDA quality control assessments.
- Implement and manage ISO quality program and interface with entire operation managing, measuring and improving operational and departmental objectives.
- Work on closing out ISO audit findings, creating audit reports, and following findings through CAPA to achieve ISO.
- Manage initial USDA regulatory visits, working collaboratively with USDA inspectors leading audit preparation and follow-up activities and reports.
- Eliminate separate reports from regulatory compliance, regulatory approvals, QA performance creating at-a-glance state of the business for senior leaders.
- Follow GMP and GDP procedures.
- Used QC-Calc and SPC to analyze inspection data.
- Source replacement materials for outdate and non- FDA compliant colorants and resins.
- Ensure all plants meet customer quality expectations and GMP standards through plant audits.
- Oversee management of responses to CAPA and observations from internal as well as external auditors.
- Facilitate high efficient team members in production, quality control, kaizen, and special projects departments.
- Establish a global network of senior QA professionals providing compliance support for the commercialization of small and large molecules.
- Implement real time SPC throughout the machining business unit that can be review at any PC with internet access.
- Develop reports and monitoring tools using Trackwise CAPA application
- Lead and facilitate Kaizen events that provide immediate improvement results.
Operations/quality manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Operations/Quality Managers are proficient in Continuous Improvement, Project Management, and Corrective Action. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Leadership skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Operations/Quality Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Continuous Improvement, 7%
Provided ongoing resolution of product quality issues and pushed for continuous improvement and standardization of best practices across multiple nutritional plants.
- Project Management, 6%
Conduct project management audits to evaluate adherence to internal PMI based project management methodology and identify and coach troubled projects.
- Corrective Action, 6%
Collected and analyzed supplier and manufacturing data in order to identify critical issues and drive closed loop corrective actions.
- Quality Operations, 5%
Developed the first Quality Operations Department within the Rochester facility.
- Quality Standards, 5%
Design and institute quality assurance guidelines while ensuring all quality standards are aligned with business objectives.
- Oversight, 4%
Provided oversight and direction of three direct reports within the Facility Support Quality group.
"continuous improvement," "project management," and "corrective action" are among the most common skills that operations/quality managers use at work. You can find even more operations/quality manager responsibilities below, including:
Interpersonal skills. The most essential soft skill for an operations/quality manager to carry out their responsibilities is interpersonal skills. This skill is important for the role because "industrial production managers must have excellent communication skills to work well other managers and with staff." Additionally, an operations/quality manager resume shows how their duties depend on interpersonal skills: "retain currently enrolled customers negotiate client reinstatements initiated my interpersonal skills and customer services to clients who refused settlement offers. "
Leadership skills. Another essential skill to perform operations/quality manager duties is leadership skills. Operations/quality managers responsibilities require that "to keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct employees." Operations/quality managers also use leadership skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "set global powertrain quality standards, analyzed, reported, and advised senior leadership on powertrain operations global quality performance. "
Problem-solving skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of operations/quality managers is problem-solving skills. This skill is critical to many everyday operations/quality manager duties, as "production managers must identify and address problems that arise." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "organized and launched the program with projects in it, finance, contracts, health solutions, hr and research functions. "
The three companies that hire the most operations/quality managers are:
- Google9 operations/quality managers jobs
- Bristol-Myers Squibb7 operations/quality managers jobs
- B. Braun Medical5 operations/quality managers jobs
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Operations/quality manager vs. Director of quality
In the manufacturing industry, a director of quality is primarily in charge of spearheading and overseeing the daily operations in a quality assurance department. They work to ensure that products adhere to the company's quality standards and industry regulations by conducting research and assessments, developing quality test systems, and reviewing reports. As a director of quality, they have the authority to make significant decisions, establish protocols and guidelines, set objectives and timelines, and implement rules and policies, creating new ones as necessary.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, operations/quality manager responsibilities require skills like "quality checks," "inventory control," "product line," and "kpi." Meanwhile a typical director of quality has skills in areas such as "healthcare," "quality improvement," "patients," and "patient safety." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Directors of quality really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $155,704. Comparatively, operations/quality managers tend to make the most money in the automotive industry with an average salary of $101,765.The education levels that directors of quality earn slightly differ from operations/quality managers. In particular, directors of quality are 11.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an operations/quality manager. Additionally, they're 1.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Operations/quality manager vs. Quality assurance specialist
A quality assurance specialist is an individual who is responsible for monitoring, inspecting, and proposing measures to correct and improve a company's product. Quality assurance specialists need to outline quality assurance policies and procedures, making sure that quality standards are assured. It is important that a quality assurance specialist should have strong attention to detail and is excellent in data collection. This work may require a minimum of bachelor's degree and certification to get certified.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, operations/quality manager responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "project management," "quality operations," "oversight," and "qa." Meanwhile, a quality assurance specialist has duties that require skills in areas such as "patients," "cfr," "management system," and "qc." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Quality assurance specialists may earn a lower salary than operations/quality managers, but quality assurance specialists earn the most pay in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $76,157. On the other hand, operations/quality managers receive higher pay in the automotive industry, where they earn an average salary of $101,765.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Quality assurance specialists tend to reach similar levels of education than operations/quality managers. In fact, they're 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Operations/quality manager vs. Quality control supervisor
A quality control supervisor specializes in carrying out and implementing systems and procedures that ensure product quality within an organization. They are primarily responsible for devising priorities and standards, managing schedules to abide by the production timeline, monitoring activities, coordinating with production and quality control personnel, assessing employee performance, and thoroughly discussing new systems for all staff. There are also instances when a quality control supervisor must perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports and assessments, responding to calls and correspondence, even disseminating notices.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, operations/quality managers are more likely to have skills like "project management," "quality operations," "oversight," and "qa." But a quality control supervisor is more likely to have skills like "safety procedures," "food safety," "lab equipment," and "hplc."
Quality control supervisors earn the highest salary when working in the pharmaceutical industry, where they receive an average salary of $74,165. Comparatively, operations/quality managers have the highest earning potential in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $101,765.Most quality control supervisors achieve a similar degree level compared to operations/quality managers. For example, they're 4.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Operations/quality manager vs. Manager
Managers are responsible for a specific department, function, or employee group. They oversee their assigned departments and all the employees under the department. Managers are responsible that the department they are handling is functioning well. They set the department goals and the steps they must take to achieve the goals. They are also in charge of assessing the performance of their departments and their employees. Additionally, managers are responsible for interviewing prospective candidates for department vacancies and assessing their fit to the needs of the department. Managers also set the general working environment in the department, and they are expected to ensure that their employees remain motivated.
Types of operations/quality manager
Updated January 8, 2025











