Industrial quality manager

Industrial quality managers monitor and control information assets by detailing processes and procedures to ensure compliance with industrial standards. They perform audits in industrial processes, advise on preventive and corrective actions, and ensure compliance with industrial standards.

The following job titles also refer to industrial quality manager:

engineering and quality control manager
industrial quality assessment manager
industrial quality supervisor
industrial quality control technologist
industrial quality control manager
quality control industrial engineer
industrial quality control testing supervisor

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as industrial quality manager. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

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.

Industrial quality manager is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to industrial quality manager.

quality engineer
industrial production manager
quality services manager
process engineer
commissioning engineer

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

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of industrial quality manager.

Industrial software: The selection of software that aids in estimating, managing and scheduling industrial processes such as design, work flow and production improvement.
Audit techniques: The techniques and methods that support a systematic and independent examination of data, policies, operations and performances using computer-assisted audit tools and techniques (CAATs) such as spreadsheets, databases, statistical analysis and business intelligence software.
Internal auditing: The practice of observing, testing, and evaluating in a systematic manner the processes of the organisation in order to improve effectivity, reduce risks, and add value to the organisation by installing a preventive culture.
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.
Industrial engineering: The field of engineering concerned with the development, improvement, and implementation of complex processes and systems of knowledge, people, equipment, etc.
Database quality standards: Techniques and methods of estimation and evaluation of system quality and overall database quality, as well as the set quality standards and regulations.
Correctional procedures: Tthe legal regulations and policies concerning the operations of correctional facilities, and other correctional procedures.
Industrial design: The practice of designing products to be manufactured through techniques of mass production.

These skills are necessary for the role of industrial quality manager.

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.
Manage corrective actions: Implementing corrective action and continuous improvement plans from internal and third party audits to meet food safety and quality performance indicators with adherance to agreed timescales.
Record production data for quality control: Keep records of the machine’s faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
Monitor manufacturing quality standards: Monitor quality standards in manufacturing and finishing process.
Define manufacturing quality criteria: Define and describe the criteria by which data quality is measured for manufacturing purposes, such as international standards and manufacturing regulations.
Conduct workplace audits: Conduct work site audits and inspections in order to ensure compliance with rules and regulations.
Identify preventive actions: Anticipate situations that could be damaging to the workplace and the processes undergone there by drawing attention to possible undesired outcomes and suggesting preventive actions.
Check quality of products on the production line: Check products for quality on the production line and remove defective items before and after packaging.
Oversee quality control: Monitor and assure the quality of the provided goods or services by overseeing that all the factors of the production meet quality requirements. Supervise product inspection and testing.
Revise quality control systems documentation: Revise quality control documents. Read through the documents, editing them, and revise items in the documentation like the numbering scheme, process to create new documents, revision and follow up process, closure of non-conformities, methods for tracking documents, etc.
Analyse test data: Interpret and analyse data collected during testing in order to formulate conclusions, new insights or solutions.
Follow safety standards in industrial contexts: Abide by safety procedures and standards for industrial contexts, mostly where machinery is involved.
Inspect industrial equipment: Inspect equipment used during industrial activities such as manufacturing or construction equipment in order to ensure that the equipment complies with health, safety, and environmental legislation.
Check quality of raw materials: Check the quality of basic materials used for the production of semi-finished and finished goods by assessing some of its characteristics and, if needed, select samples to be analysed.
Evaluate industrial hygiene: Assess hygiene in industrial environments by evaluating chemical, physical, and biological agents to ensure the health of people working with them.
Provide technical expertise: Provide expert knowledge in a particular field, especially concerning mechanical or scientific subjects, to decision makers, engineers, technical staff or journalists.
Support implementation of quality management systems: Advocate the introduction of new business processes to help achieve quality standards, such as the improvement of the organisational structure or the development of new procedures in case of quality defects.
Liaise with industrial professionals: Establish relationships with engineers, geologists, hydrologists and hydrogeologists, and other industrial professionals.
Perform quality audits: Execute regular, systematic and documented examinations of a quality system for verifying conformity with a standard based on objective evidence such as the implementation of processes, effectiveness in achieving quality goals and reduction and elimination of quality problems.
Identify improvement actions: Realise possible improvements for processes to increase productivity, improve efficiency, increase quality, and streamline procedures.
Develop audit plan: Define all organisational tasks (time, place and order) and develop a checklist concerning the topics to be audited.

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

Manufacturing processes: The steps required through which a material is transformed into a product, its development and full-scale manufacturing.
Total quality control: The quality control philosophy that expects each part to be of top quality, without any tolerance for subpar materials or methods. The mindset of striving to deliver top quality work without compromises.

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

Perform pre-assembly quality checks: Inspect product parts for faults or damages, using testing equipment if necessary, and check that the received lot is complete before assembling the finished products.
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.
Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
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.
Create manufacturing guidelines: Draft procedures and guidelines to ensure that government and industry regulations are met by manufacturers in both international and domestic markets.
Define quality standards: Define, in collaboration with managers and quality experts, a set of quality standards to ensure compliance with regulations and help achieve customers’ requirements.
Advise on manufacturing problems: Advise the visited industrial plants on how to better oversee production to ensure that the manufacturing problems are correctly diagnosed and solved.
Develop manufacturing policies: Develop policies and procedures applied in manufacturing with the aim of improving competitiveness and capabilities of the industry.
Attend to ict systems quality: Ensure correct operations which comply fully with specific needs and outcomes in terms of the development, integration, security and overall management of ICT systems.
Communicate test results to other departments: Communicate testing information such as testing schedules, samples testing statistics and test results, to the relevant departments.
Assess supplier risks: Evaluate supplier performance in order to assess which suppliers do or may not perform adequately, stick to the agreed contracts, meet the standard requirements and desired quality at all times or who may pose future risks.
Use measurement instruments: Use different measurement instruments depending on the property to be measured. Utilise various instruments to measure length, area, volume, speed, energy, force, and others.
Perform project management: Manage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project’s progress in order to achieve a specific goal within a set time and budget.
Provide manufacturing documentation: Provide clients with the appropriate technical documents such as manuals, technical reports, metallurgical investigations, etc.
Inspect material: Select material for inspection and check the conformity of that material according to set specifications and regulations.
Manage manufacturing documentation: Manage the reports and technical documentation such as Standard Operating Procedures or logbooks, by writing and reviewing them, capturing and eliminating any deviation and ambiguity.
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.

1321 – Manufacturing managers

 

 

---

 

 

References

1. Industrial quality manager – ESCO