What does a quality systems manager do?

A quality systems manager is an individual who monitors the production processes of a manufacturing firm to ensure that factory machinery and people produce goods and products according to the company and industry requirements. Quality systems managers are required to supervise supervisors and inspectors to make sure that quality control measures are carried out properly. They must develop and improve all policies and procedures, which can impact the effectiveness of the company's quality systems. Quality systems managers are also required to coordinate with the top management in formulating company policies.
Quality systems manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real quality systems manager resumes:
- Lead Kaizen event to improve receiving inspection area for better product flow.
- Develop stability protocols and manage stability studies for drug and device products using FDA guidelines.
- Perform supplier audits, GMP company audits, project management, and annual drug reviews.
- Coordinate the relaunch of the HACCP program.
- Provide guidance and oversight on quality assurance and quality control issues.
- Implement hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) program for risk management.
- Review and track attraction downtime trends and red flags, providing oversight and resolution.
- Devise and implement HACCP, product recall, SSOP, hold & release, plant glass and GMP polices for facility.
- Participate in implementation of ISO system.
- Analyze QA measurement data on a frequent basis to verify effectiveness of corrective actions.
- Maintain facility compliance to FDA quality system regulations as well as coordinated the implementation of design control policies.
- Institute remote internal audits using desktop sharing audits and combine ISO surveillance audits to significantly reduce audit costs.
- Develop strategy to implement an effective QMS starting with organization/streamlining of document/Training structure.
- Utilize Java during client/server testing.
- Review specifications and develop test plans for functionality, usability and regression.
Quality systems manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Quality Systems Managers are proficient in Continuous Improvement, Quality Management System, and FDA. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Leadership skills, and Time-management skills.
We break down the percentage of Quality Systems Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Continuous Improvement, 7%
Established, led cross-functional continuous improvement teams for incremental product development, quality improvement and resolution of customer issues.
- Quality Management System, 7%
Establish Compliant Quality management system to help facilitate timely, accurate and sustained decision making to assure appropriate and compliant outcomes.
- FDA, 6%
Maintained facility compliance to FDA quality system regulations as well as coordinated the implementation of design control policies.
- CAPA, 5%
Monitored and reported on quality data for CAPA, NCR, complains, material reviews, equipment calibration/PM and SPC trending.
- Medical Devices, 5%
Prepared and submitted applications to Health Canada for marketing of Medical Devices.
- Corrective Action, 4%
Designed and implemented a corporate web-based supplier and customer concern database utilizing 8D methodology, improving efficiency and corrective action records.
Common skills that a quality systems manager uses to do their job include "continuous improvement," "quality management system," and "fda." You can find details on the most important quality systems manager responsibilities below.
Interpersonal skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a quality systems manager 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 systems managers often use interpersonal skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "demonstrate proven leadership ability and excellent interpersonal skills while mentoring and teaching the team effective problem solving. "
Leadership skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling quality systems manager 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 systems manager resume, here's how quality systems managers can utilize leadership skills in their job responsibilities: "promoted to this role to provide global quality systems leadership for the company as it transitioned to its own entity. "
Problem-solving skills. For certain quality systems manager responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a quality systems manager rely on this skill, as "production managers must identify and address problems that arise." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what quality systems managers do: "monitored supplier quality performance and resolved all related issues. "
The three companies that hire the most quality systems managers are:
- Church & Dwight Co.14 quality systems managers jobs
- Medtronic12 quality systems managers jobs
- B. Braun Medical11 quality systems managers jobs
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Quality systems manager vs. Vice-president of quality
A vice president of quality is responsible for monitoring the quality performance and delivery of the company outputs and deliverables to serve customers and clients. Vice presidents of quality analyze the production and operational processes to ensure that everything adheres to the internal guidelines and regulations. They also coordinate with the stakeholders for project updates and identify opportunities for revenue resources to increase the company's profits. A vice president of quality must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially in minimizing loss from operational failures and increasing productivity results.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a quality systems manager are more likely to require skills like "management review," "food safety," "iso," and "ts." On the other hand, a job as a vice-president of quality requires skills like "oversight," "risk management," "patient safety," and "performance improvement." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Vice-president of qualities tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $122,006. In contrast, quality systems managers make the biggest average salary, $108,047, in the pharmaceutical industry.On average, vice-president of qualities reach higher levels of education than quality systems managers. Vice-president of qualities are 7.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 2.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Quality systems 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.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, quality systems manager responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "medical devices," "management review," "food safety," and "iso." Meanwhile, a director of quality has duties that require skills in areas such as "healthcare," "quality improvement," "patients," and "oversight." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, directors of quality earn a higher salary than quality systems managers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, directors of quality earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $155,704. Whereas quality systems managers have higher pay in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $108,047.directors of quality earn higher levels of education than quality systems managers in general. They're 7.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 2.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Quality systems 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 systems manager resumes include skills like "quality management system," "medical devices," "project management," and "management review," whereas a quality control supervisor is more likely to list skills in "safety procedures," "lab equipment," "iso," and "qc testing. "
Quality control supervisors earn the highest salary when working in the pharmaceutical industry, where they receive an average salary of $74,165. Comparatively, quality systems managers have the highest earning potential in the pharmaceutical industry, with an average salary of $108,047.Most quality control supervisors achieve a lower degree level compared to quality systems managers. For example, they're 8.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Quality systems manager vs. Manager, quality engineer
A quality engineer manager is in charge of designing and developing quality control procedures, ensuring all products and operations meet the company's standards. Their responsibilities revolve around performing research and analysis to identify business needs, assessing existing quality control methods to identify areas needing improvements, and providing solutions on issues and concerns. Furthermore, as a manager, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between quality systems managers and managers, quality engineer, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a quality systems manager might have more use for skills like "medical devices," "gmp," "project management," and "management review." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of managers, quality engineer require skills like "quality engineering," "iso," "qa," and "aerospace. "
The technology industry tends to pay the highest salaries for managers, quality engineer, with average annual pay of $124,149. Comparatively, the highest quality systems manager annual salary comes from the pharmaceutical industry.managers, quality engineer reach similar levels of education compared to quality systems managers, in general. The difference is that they're 0.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of quality systems manager
Updated January 8, 2025











