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.

Quality Associate Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real quality associate resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

  • 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.

Some of the skills we found on quality associate resumes included "patients," "qa," and "quality system." We have detailed the most important quality associate responsibilities below.

  • The most important skills for a quality associate to have in this position are interpersonal skills. In this excerpt that we gathered from a quality associate resume, you'll understand why: "industrial production managers must have excellent communication skills so they can work well other managers and with staff." According to resumes we found, interpersonal skills can be used by a quality associate in order to "used organization, communication, and interpersonal skills to facilitate a highly effective, customer service oriented environment. "
  • Another trait important for fulfilling quality associate duties is leadership skills. According to a quality associate resume, "to keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct the employees they manage." Here's an example of how quality associates are able to utilize leadership skills: "prioritized plant qa activities in alignment with business unit leadership priorities. "
  • Quality associates are also known for problem-solving skills, which can be critical when it comes to performing their duties. An example of why this skill is important is shown by this snippet that we found in a quality associate resume: "production managers must identify problems immediately and solve them" We also found this resume example that details how this skill is put to the test: "assigned fda medical device report codes to complaints, and escalated issues and potential solutions according to the management team. "
  • A quality associate responsibilities sometimes require "time-management skills." The responsibilities that rely on this skills are shown by this resume excerpt: "to meet production deadlines, managers must carefully manage their employees’ time as well as their own." This resume example shows how this skill is used by quality associates: "assisted in proofing/completing tasks for other qas as designated by qa manager in order to help meet deadlines. "
  • See the full list of quality associate skills.

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    What Auditor/Qualitys Do

    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.

    In this section, we compare the average quality associate annual salary with that of an auditor/quality. Typically, auditors/quality earn a $14,988 lower salary than quality associates earn annually.

    Even though quality associates and auditors/quality have vast differences in their careers, a few of the skills required to do both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require quality system, quality specifications, and customer service in the day-to-day roles.

    There are some key differences in responsibilities as well. For example, a 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 how truly different these two careers really are.

    Auditors/quality tend to make the most money in the retail industry by averaging a salary of $40,479. In contrast, quality associates make the biggest average salary of $48,676 in the health care industry.

    The education levels that auditors/quality earn is a bit different than that of 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.

    What Are The Duties Of a 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.

    Next up, we have the quality assurance auditor profession to look over. This career brings along a higher average salary when compared to a quality associate annual salary. In fact, quality assurance auditors salary difference is $27,235 higher than the salary of quality associates per year.

    Not everything about these jobs is different. Take their skills, for example. Quality associates and quality assurance auditors both include similar skills like "patients," "quality system," and "product quality" on their resumes.

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

    It's been discovered that quality assurance auditors earn higher salaries compared to quality associates, but we wanted to find out where quality assurance auditors earned the most pay. The answer? The pharmaceutical industry. The average salary in the industry is $87,841. Additionally, quality associates earn the highest paychecks in the health care with an average salary of $48,676.

    When it comes to the differences in education between the two professions, 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.

    How a Quality Supervisor Compares

    A quality supervisor is a professional 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.

    The third profession we take a look at is quality supervisor. On an average scale, these workers bring in higher salaries than quality associates. In fact, they make a $10,186 higher salary per year.

    While looking through the resumes of several quality associates and quality supervisors we discovered that both professions have similar skills. 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 are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from quality associate resumes include skills like "patients," "qa," "quality specifications," and "cgmp regulations," whereas a quality supervisor might be skilled in "food safety," "quality procedures," "gmp," and "lean manufacturing. "

    Interestingly enough, quality supervisors earn the most pay in the automotive industry, where they command an average salary of $73,685. As mentioned previously, quality associates highest annual salary comes from the health care industry with an average salary of $48,676.

    When it comes to education, quality supervisors tend to earn similar education levels than 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.

    Description Of a 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 about $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 also vary in other skills.

    Even though a few skill sets overlap, 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 quality inspectors might include skills like "calipers," "micrometers," "quality inspection," and "inspection results" on their resume.

    Quality inspectors earn a higher salary in the health care industry with an average of $39,397. Whereas, quality associates earn the highest salary in the health care industry.

    In general, quality inspectors reach lower levels of education when compared to quality associates resumes. Quality inspectors are 6.4% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.