What does a quality manager do?
A quality manager is an individual who is responsible for ensuring that the level of quality of the company's product outputs is met for customers. Quality managers monitor and evaluate the internal production process so that they can produce statistical reports on the standard of quality and communicate them to upper management. To ensure health and safety standards, quality managers must create and maintain up-to-date product or process specifications. They also train employees on quality assurance standards and processes.
Quality manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real quality manager resumes:
- Achieve TS16949 accreditation during the year.
- Plan and manage UAT test cycles with the business.
- Manage six sigma projects concerning Sidematch claims savings $130K annually.
- Manage drug product, API and component release for clinical and commercial.
- Manage UAT testing, including consolidation and report out to management on test results.
- Utilize ITAR knowledge and manage vital certifications and registrations (UL, CSA, military / aerospace).
- Maintain Toyota quality standards and procedures in the production of aluminum die castings.
- Coordinate scheduling of direct reports and assist with SQF training for current and new employees.
- Communicate with USDA inspectors regarding regulatory issues, communication and coordination of activities with sanitation manager.
- Suggest and implement corrective and preventive measures for improvement of the QMS.
- Develop, implement, and train management and employees on an SQF program.
- Target KPIs for improve internal, as well as external customer experience metrics.
- Work closely with USDA and FSIS to ensure company compliance with governmental regulations.
- Document project activity in HCFA (now known as CMS) mandate format.
- Receive merited promotion to provide operational leadership of JCAHO and CMS relate priorities.
Quality manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 8% of Quality Managers are proficient in Continuous Improvement, Corrective Action, and Quality Standards. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Leadership skills, and Time-management skills.
We break down the percentage of Quality Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Continuous Improvement, 8%
Facilitated Regional Continuous Improvement Steering Committee - Facilitated statistical process control, Total Quality Management and Quality Awareness regional implementation program.
- Corrective Action, 6%
Investigated customer complaints associated with product quality and coordinated the development of root cause analyses and the development of corrective actions.
- Quality Standards, 5%
Maintained product integrity by ensuring parts provided to manufacturing met quality standards for engineering specifications, including ISO standards.
- Product Quality, 5%
Establish procedures for maintaining high standards of product quality, reliability and safety and facilitated multiple process and continuous improvement projects.
- Sigma, 4%
Developed presentations and training courses including measurement, analysis, improvement, and control utilizing Six Sigma concepts and material.
- Quality Management System, 4%
Lead organization to achieve and maintain ISO 9001:2000/TickIT certification for software development utilizing corporate quality management system to exceed customer requirements.
Common skills that a quality manager uses to do their job include "continuous improvement," "corrective action," and "quality standards." You can find details on the most important quality manager responsibilities below.
Interpersonal skills. One of the key soft skills for a quality manager to have is interpersonal skills. You can see how this relates to what quality managers do because "industrial production managers must have excellent communication skills to work well other managers and with staff." Additionally, a quality manager resume shows how quality managers use interpersonal skills: "demonstrate proven leadership ability and excellent interpersonal skills while mentoring and teaching the team effective problem solving. "
Leadership skills. Another essential skill to perform quality manager duties is leadership skills. Quality managers responsibilities require that "to keep the production process running smoothly, industrial production managers must motivate and direct employees." Quality managers also use leadership skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "provide leadership in reviewing customer complaints by utilizing quality planning, continuous improvement, corrective and preventive action methods. "
Problem-solving skills. quality manager responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "production managers must identify and address problems that arise." This resume example shows what quality managers do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "resolved all 483's dealing with manufacturing, packaging, and anzi inspection, and fda investigations. "
The three companies that hire the most quality managers are:
- Biomat Usa, Inc.128 quality managers jobs
- Deloitte65 quality managers jobs
- KPMG LLP58 quality managers jobs
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Compare different quality managers
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, quality manager responsibilities require skills like "quality procedures," "iso," "ts," and "quality audits." Meanwhile a typical director of quality has skills in areas such as "healthcare," "quality improvement," "oversight," and "patient safety." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Directors of quality earn the highest salaries when working in the finance industry, with an average yearly salary of $155,704. On the other hand, quality managers are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $100,693.directors of quality tend to reach higher levels of education than quality managers. In fact, directors of quality are 8.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Quality manager 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.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that quality manager responsibilities requires skills like "product quality," "quality management system," "lean six sigma," and "qc." But an auditor/quality might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "excellent organizational," "audit findings," "audit results," and "medicaid."
Auditors/quality earn a lower average salary than quality managers. But auditors/quality earn the highest pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $40,479. Additionally, quality managers earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $100,693 annually.auditors/quality earn lower levels of education than quality managers in general. They're 7.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.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.
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 manager resumes include skills like "quality management system," "customer service," "lean six sigma," and "qc," whereas a quality control supervisor is more likely to list skills in "safety procedures," "food safety," "lab equipment," and "iso. "
Quality control supervisors earn the highest salary when working in the pharmaceutical industry, where they receive an average salary of $74,165. Comparatively, quality managers have the highest earning potential in the technology industry, with an average salary of $100,693.quality control supervisors typically earn lower educational levels compared to quality managers. Specifically, they're 8.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Quality manager vs. Quality specialist
Quality control senior scientists ensure that testing, materials, and laboratory equipment are up to standard. In the course of their career, they can expect to perform tests for the quality of manufacturing processes in order to ensure compliance with predetermined criteria, as well as ensuring that final products are safe for sale or distribution. This is a career that requires the skills of teamwork, communication, writing, and prioritization. Also, good attention to detail and some technical skills will be needed.
Types of quality manager
Updated January 8, 2025
