What does a quality assurance associate do?
A quality assurance associate's role is to oversee the production operations in a manufacturing plant or a similar setting, ensuring quality standards throughout the entire process. Most of the time, a quality assurance associate must perform workforce assessments, provide training to new employees, produce or approve documentation and progress reports, and collaborate with colleagues to ensure that everything is running smoothly and complies with the company's policies and regulations. Furthermore, there are instances when one must address issues and concerns, providing them with the necessary corrective measures.
Quality assurance associate responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real quality assurance associate resumes:
- Implement and manage the TrackWise QTS system to create, track and close action items.
- Lead cross functional project team to build user-friendly windows base customer support applications which interface with the OmniPlan/OmniPlus mainframe application.
- Review and facilitate documentation for the MRB process.
- Revise production sheets for internal use and for the HACCP program.
- Verify that SPC data is being correctly gather, record, and monitor.
- Review and release batch records /control documents in a CGMP and ISO 9001 regulation.
- Prepare SPC charts/tables for CNC machine operators and quality department to log SPC data.
- Test food samples from the line to ensure they are within specifications using HPLC.
- Maintain safe working environment by following ISO policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.
- Perform acceptance quality limits (AQL) on tablets, capsules, and package products.
- Establish a microbiological testing schedule to meet upcoming new HACCP procedures for the beef industry.
- Perform mathematical calculations, basic statistics and understanding or AQL's (acceptable quality limits).
- Identify contract documentation requirements and ensure concurrent compilation of MRB throughout the life of the project.
- Assist with the creation of a PowerPoint presentation for staff about the roles and responsibilities of internal auditors.
- Used IBM API tester tool to invoke different agents, services and directly post message to target system.
Quality assurance associate skills and personality traits
We calculated that 30% of Quality Assurance Associates are proficient in Excellent Interpersonal, Customer Service, and GMP. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Leadership skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Quality Assurance Associates that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Excellent Interpersonal, 30%
Promoted into highly visible, customer-oriented position by supervisor as a result of excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
- Customer Service, 14%
Manage constructive relationships with customer service agents in field virtually to ensure accuracy in consultant pay and account manager commissions.
- GMP, 5%
Performed inspection and verification of incoming materials and consumables that are used in pharmaceutical manufacturing process under GMP guidelines.
- Quality System, 3%
Collected and compiled statistical quality system data, achieving more effective and efficient tracking for continuous improvement of quality assurance activities.
- FDA, 3%
Assisted in regular internal audits to ensure compliance with FDA regulations; reviewed necessary documentation for accuracy and compliance.
- PowerPoint, 3%
Advised with instructional PowerPoint design.
Common skills that a quality assurance associate uses to do their job include "excellent interpersonal," "customer service," and "gmp." You can find details on the most important quality assurance associate responsibilities below.
Interpersonal skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a quality assurance associate to have is interpersonal skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "industrial production managers must have excellent communication skills to work well other managers and with staff." Quality assurance associates often use interpersonal skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "experience across multiple quality systems, sql experience with capa including root cause investigation tools strong interpersonal/communication/influencing/negotiation/technical writing skills. "
Leadership skills. Many quality assurance associate duties rely on leadership skills. "to keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct employees.," so a quality assurance associate will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways quality assurance associate responsibilities rely on leadership skills: "assure accuracy/consistency in customer service operational processes and provide constructive written feedback to agents and leadership. "
Problem-solving skills. quality assurance associates are also known for problem-solving skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to quality assurance associate responsibilities, because "production managers must identify and address problems that arise." A quality assurance associate resume example shows how problem-solving skills is used in the workplace: "investigated and resolved all customer complaints within the guidelines of the fda and international regulatory bodies. "
The three companies that hire the most quality assurance associates are:
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Compare different quality assurance associates
Quality assurance associate vs. Quality control coordinator
A quality control coordinator is in charge of organizing and overseeing an organization's quality control procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. They coordinate teams and activities, delegate tasks, conduct audits, set goals, establish guidelines, gather and analyze client feedback, and develop strategies to optimize operations. They must also conduct inspections to ensure the facility's compliance with state laws and standards. Furthermore, a quality control coordinator must monitor the progress of all operations, resolving issues promptly and efficiently while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, quality assurance associate responsibilities require skills like "excellent interpersonal," "customer service," "visualization," and "qc." Meanwhile a typical quality control coordinator has skills in areas such as "patients," "data entry," "laboratory equipment," and "continuous improvement." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Quality control coordinators really shine in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $69,043. Comparatively, quality assurance associates tend to make the most money in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $62,720.The education levels that quality control coordinators earn slightly differ from quality assurance associates. In particular, quality control coordinators are 5.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a quality assurance associate. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Quality assurance associate vs. Quality control internship
A quality control internship is a trainee employee who gains experience by working in the quality control department of a company's production facility. Quality control interns must analyze production lines and devise test procedures to identify manufacturing deficiencies that cause quality control issues. To address manufacturing deficiencies, quality control interns should coordinate with the facility's supervisors and site contractors. Quality control interns must also create standard operating procedures (SOP) for tests so that they can increase product quality as well as customer satisfaction.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real quality assurance associate resumes. While quality assurance associate responsibilities can utilize skills like "excellent interpersonal," "customer service," "visualization," and "powerpoint," quality control interns use skills like "data analysis," "patients," "data entry," and "data collection."
Quality control interns earn a lower average salary than quality assurance associates. But quality control interns earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $43,840. Additionally, quality assurance associates earn the highest salaries in the pharmaceutical with average pay of $62,720 annually.quality control interns earn similar levels of education than quality assurance associates in general. They're 2.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Quality assurance associate vs. Quality lead
A quality assurance (QA) lead is responsible for organizing and managing the testing of products prior to its release. Your duties will include defining testing standards and strategies, establishing formal QA processes, and overseeing all aspects of QA, such as using best practices and establishing metrics. Additionally, you are responsible for supervising and mentoring QA team members, and developing and implementing scripts, test cases, and procedures. You are also responsible for managing off quality products and developing and institutionalizing ISO complaints.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, quality assurance associates are more likely to have skills like "excellent interpersonal," "visualization," "powerpoint," and "qc." But a quality lead is more likely to have skills like "continuous improvement," "project management," "sigma," and "data analysis."
Quality leads earn the highest salary when working in the health care industry, where they receive an average salary of $92,715. Comparatively, quality assurance associates have the highest earning potential in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $62,720.When it comes to education, quality leads tend to earn similar degree levels compared to quality assurance associates. In fact, they're 1.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Quality assurance associate vs. Quality control
As the name entails, the job of a quality control inspector is to inspect, maintain, and improve the quality and standard of products. They are responsible for ensuring the company's reputation is not damaged due to defective products or inferior manufacturing processes. This can be done by detecting and resolving the problem early on, and returning the product for repair. A quality control inspector should also notify the supervisors immediately when issues arise and coordinate with them to address the problem.
Types of quality assurance associate
Updated January 8, 2025
