Consumer goods inspector

Description

Consumer goods inspectors evaluate assembled parts of consumer goods and products for compliance with specifications and defects in-line with clients’ requirements and organisational policies. Consumer goods inspectors provide results and findings for reports. Inspected defects can be identified as being cracks, scratches, errors in sanding, and defects of moving parts.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to consumer goods inspector:

surgical instruments inspector
consumer products compliance inspector
consumer products
stock parts inspector
assembly inspector
consumer goods assembly inspector
consumer goods compliance inspector
material inspector
consumer goods quality inspector
consumer products assembly line inspector
consumer goods quality control inspector
consumer goods quality compliance inspector
consumer products quality control inspector
consumer goods
final assembly inspector
consumer goods assembly line inspector
consumer products quality inspector
consumer products assembly inspector
toys inspector

Minimum qualifications

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required to work as a consumer goods inspector.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Consumer goods inspector is a Skill level 2 occupation.

Consumer goods inspector career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to consumer goods inspector.

rolling stock assembly inspector
vessel assembly inspector
product assembly inspector
aircraft assembly inspector
motor vehicle assembly inspector

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of consumer goods inspector. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of consumer goods inspector with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

motor vehicle engine inspector
rolling stock engine inspector
avionics inspector
aircraft engine inspector
vessel engine inspector

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of consumer goods inspector.

  • Quality assurance procedures: The procedures to inspect a product or system to ensure that it is according to specifications and requirements.
  • Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of consumer goods inspector.

  • Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
  • Record test data: Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
  • Undertake inspections: Undertake safety inspections in areas of concern to identify and report potential hazards or security breaches; take measures to maximise safety standards.
  • Manage health and safety standards: Oversee all personnel and processes to comply with health, safety and hygiene standards. Communicate and support alignment of these requirements with the company’s health and safety programmes.
  • Use testing equipment: Use equipment to test performance and operation of machinery.
  • Check for damaged items: Identify products that have been damaged and report the situation.
  • Communicate problems to senior colleagues: Communicate and give feedback to senior colleagues in the event of problems or non-conformities.
  • Conduct performance tests: Conduct experimental, environmental and operational tests on models, prototypes or on the systems and equipment itself in order to test their strength and capabilities under normal and extreme conditions.
  • Write inspection reports: Write the results and conclusions of the inspection in a clear and intelligible way. Log the inspection’s processes such as contact, outcome, and steps taken.
  • Use technical documentation: Understand and use technical documentation in the overall technical process.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of consumer goods inspector. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Woodworking processes: Steps in the processing of wood for the manufacturing of wooden articles and types of machines used for these processes such as drying, shaping, assembling and surface finishing.
  • Toys and games industry: Types of products available in the games and toys industry and of the major suppliers in the field.
  • Musical instruments: The different musical instruments, their ranges, timbre, and possible combinations.
  • Glassworking: The process of melting, working and shaping glass to create individual products or pieces of glasswork.
  • Metalworking: The process of working with metals to create individual parts, assemblies, or large-scale structures.
  • Jewellery processes: Materials and processes involved in creating jewellery items like earrings, necklaces, rings, brackets, etc.
  • Furniture industry: Companies and activities involved in the design, manufacture, distribution and sale of functional and decorative objects of household equipment.
  • Quality assurance methodologies: Quality assurance principles, standard requirements, and the set of processes and activities used for measuring, controlling and ensuring the quality of products and processes.
  • Medical devices: Equipment and devices used in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of medical issues. Medical devices cover a wide range of products, ranging from syringes and protheses to MRI machinery and hearing aids.
  • Features of sporting equipment: Types of sporting, fitness and recreational equipment and sporting supplies and their characteristics.
  • Manufacturing of sports equipment: The manufacture of products and equipment used for both outdoor and indoor sports activities, such as balls, rackets, ski’s, surfboards, fishing, hunting, skating or fitness centre equipment.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of consumer goods inspector. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Act as contact person during equipment incident: Act as the person to be contacted when an equipment incident occurs. Participate in the investigation by providing insights.
  • Create solutions to problems: Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.
  • Prepare audit activities: Prepare an audit plan including both pre-audits and certification audits. Communicate with the different processes in order to implement the improvement actions that lead to certification.
  • Give instructions to staff: Give instructions to subordinates by employing various communication techniques. Adjust communication style to the target audience in order to convey instructions as intended.
  • Monitor packaging operations: Observe and supervise the packaging operations undertaken by the workers for compliance to production requirements. Check products for proper packaging such as labelling and date coding in order to ensure appropriate and safe transportation.
  • Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
  • Read standard blueprints: Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
  • Supervise staff: Oversee the selection, training, performance and motivation of staff.
  • Maintain test equipment: Maintain equipment used for testing the quality of systems and products.
  • Supervise work: Direct and supervise the day-to-day activities of subordinate personnel.
  • Manage maintenance operations: Oversee maintenance activities, making sure that staff is following procedures and ensuring routine and periodic refurbishment and maintenance activities.
  • Liaise with engineers: Collaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.
  • Replace machines: Evaluate when to invest in replacing machines or machine tools and take the necessary actions.
  • Lead inspections: Lead inspections and the protocol involved, such as introducing the inspection team, explaining the purpose of the inspection, performing the inspection, requesting documents, asking appropriate questions, and maintaining a high level of professionalism when investigating subjects.

ISCO group and title

7543 – Product graders and testers (excluding foods and beverages)


References
  1. Consumer goods inspector – ESCO
Last updated on October 22, 2022

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