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What does a quality associate do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
What does a quality associate do

A quality associate is responsible for ensuring that a new product meets standards for usage and operating. You will perform various tasks that include assisting in identifying quality problems and improving operational processes, writing, disseminating, and maintaining quality documentation and manuals, and verifying logs and databases to monitor and flag quality issues and improvements. In addition, you are responsible for supporting document control and quality audits, reviewing reports and validation protocols, and investigating and diagnosing quality complaints.

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Quality associate responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real quality associate resumes:

  • Manage document control including initiating and revising procedures, QA approval and implementation of documents.
  • Participate in all regulatory, corporate and internal audit activities to include FDA, DEA, OSHA and ISO.
  • Create slideshow for meeting with PowerPoint.
  • Maintain all quality documents including PPAP, FMEA, etc.
  • Provide management with update PowerPoint graphs monthly, quarterly and yearly.
  • Chart review for compliance for local policies, TJC and CMS.
  • Perform HACCP and SSOP's checks and analyze and report results.
  • Investigate complaint records involving medical device in accordance with 21 CFR 820.198.
  • Perform proof reading for product labeling to assure it complies with 201.66 CFR labeling requirements.
  • Gather information for PPAP's regarding materials used in the making of the finished products.
  • Coordinate the final reviews, bi-yearly reviews, revisions and approval for all GMP associate documents.
  • Assist in updating their HACCP plan and help ensure the plan are being implement throughout the plant.
  • Frequent setup and tear down of prototype telescope parts in HAAS VF2 and VF6 CNC mills and TL2 lathe.
  • Participate in research projects like, HPLC method development and monitoring drug release times from different coat layers of granules.
  • Perform of mock FDA audits; GMP, QSR, GCP, and GLP compliance audits; contractor/vendor/CRO audits and assessments.

Quality associate skills and personality traits

We calculated that 10% of Quality Associates are proficient in Patients, QA, and Quality System. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Leadership skills, and Problem-solving skills.

We break down the percentage of Quality Associates that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Patients, 10%

    Investigated complaints by analyzing initial information and following up with patients by phone.

  • QA, 5%

    Participated in Operations and QA departmental meetings for review of quality concerns and help identify areas for process improvement.

  • Quality System, 5%

    Reviewed training requirements on FDA Quality System and Medical Device Reporting Regulations periodically to maintain process knowledge and personal development plan.

  • Quality Specifications, 5%

    Maintained the quality specifications as provided by Engineering.

  • Product Quality, 4%

    Prepare process validation report and annual product quality review reports.

  • Customer Service, 4%

    Managed renal peritoneal dialysis customer complaints utilizing GDP and customer service.

Common skills that a quality associate uses to do their job include "patients," "qa," and "quality system." You can find details on the most important quality associate responsibilities below.

Interpersonal skills. The most essential soft skill for a quality associate 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, a quality associate resume shows how their duties depend on interpersonal skills: "used organization, communication, and interpersonal skills to facilitate a highly effective, customer service oriented environment. "

Leadership skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling quality associate duties is leadership skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "to keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct employees." According to a quality associate resume, here's how quality associates can utilize leadership skills in their job responsibilities: "prioritized plant qa activities in alignment with business unit leadership priorities. "

Problem-solving skills. quality associates are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to quality associate responsibilities, because "production managers must identify and address problems that arise." A quality associate resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "assigned fda medical device report codes to complaints, and escalated issues and potential solutions according to the management team. "

All quality associate skills

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Compare different quality associates

Quality associate vs. Auditor/quality

A quality auditor is responsible for inspecting the company's services and products, ensuring its adherence to business requirements and internal regulations. Quality auditors analyze the efficiency of operational functions and production processes to maintain high-quality deliverables with the utmost consideration for the safety and security of the production staff. They run quality checks for the outputs, create findings reports, and strategize methodologies to enhance stability by utilizing standard testing parameters. A quality auditor must have excellent communication and organizational skills, as they may also recommend opportunities to generate more resources and increase revenues.

If we compare the average quality associate annual salary with that of an auditor/quality, we find that auditors/quality typically earn a $14,988 lower salary than quality associates make annually.Even though quality associates and auditors/quality are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require quality system, quality specifications, and customer service in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, quality associate responsibilities require skills like "patients," "qa," "product quality," and "data analysis." Meanwhile a typical auditor/quality has skills in areas such as "excellent interpersonal," "excellent organizational," "audit findings," and "audit results." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Auditors/quality tend to make the most money working in the retail industry, where they earn an average salary of $40,479. In contrast, quality associates make the biggest average salary, $48,676, in the health care industry.The education levels that auditors/quality earn slightly differ from quality associates. In particular, auditors/quality are 2.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a quality associate. Additionally, they're 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Quality associate vs. Quality assurance auditor

Quality assurance (QA) analysts are responsible for testing company products and processes. Through testing, QA analysts ensure that the product or process is ready for production. They check whether the process meets company standards and guidelines, as well as any standards related to the industry they are in. QA analysts are in charge of determining the root cause of any problems that they may encounter. They also try to solve these as soon as possible. They also ensure that the company's products meet user expectations as well as the company's brand promise.

A career as a quality assurance auditor brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a quality associate. In fact, quality assurance auditors salary is $27,235 higher than the salary of quality associates per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Quality associates and quality assurance auditors both require similar skills like "patients," "quality system," and "product quality" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that quality associate responsibilities requires skills like "qa," "quality specifications," "customer service," and "continuous improvement." But a quality assurance auditor might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "clinical trials," "quality assurance audits," "gmp," and "audit findings."

Quality assurance auditors earn a higher average salary than quality associates. But quality assurance auditors earn the highest pay in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $87,841. Additionally, quality associates earn the highest salaries in the health care with average pay of $48,676 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Quality assurance auditors tend to reach similar levels of education than quality associates. In fact, they're 0.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Quality associate vs. Quality supervisor

A quality supervisor is an individual who manages and implements the quality assurance and control systems of a company to ensure the proper execution of products and customer satisfaction. Quality supervisors oversee a team of quality control analysts and train them on the latest product standards. They must make sure that customers are pleased with the finished product by communicating with them and setting realistic expectations. Quality supervisors must also provide reports on quality metrics to the other members of the management team.

On average scale, quality supervisors bring in higher salaries than quality associates. In fact, they earn a $10,186 higher salary per year.quality associates and quality supervisors both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "quality system," "product quality," and "customer service," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from quality associate resumes include skills like "patients," "qa," "quality specifications," and "cgmp regulations," whereas a quality supervisor is more likely to list skills in "food safety," "quality procedures," "gmp," and "lean manufacturing. "

Quality supervisors earn the best pay in the automotive industry, where they command an average salary of $73,685. Quality associates earn the highest pay from the health care industry, with an average salary of $48,676.When it comes to education, quality supervisors tend to earn similar degree levels compared to quality associates. In fact, they're 1.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Quality associate vs. Quality inspector

A Quality Control Inspector is responsible for making sure that the manufactured products in a particular company or organization are up to standard and adheres to the rules and regulations. They continuously monitor production operations where they manually inspect products, accepting and rejecting those that do not meet the standard quality, and provide recommendations should it be necessary. Moreover, the Quality Control Inspectors coordinates with workers to ensure improvements, and with management to report the results.

Quality inspectors tend to earn a lower pay than quality associates by an average of $17,103 per year.While both quality associates and quality inspectors complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like qa, product quality, and fda, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between quality associates and quality inspectors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a quality associate might have more use for skills like "patients," "quality system," "quality specifications," and "customer service." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of quality inspectors require skills like "calipers," "micrometers," "quality inspection," and "inspection results. "

Quality inspectors enjoy the best pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $39,397. For comparison, quality associates earn the highest salary in the health care industry.In general, quality inspectors hold lower degree levels compared to quality associates. Quality inspectors are 6.4% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of quality associate

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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