Educational Requirements
Manufacturing positions such as those held by software quality assurance managers typically require a bachelor's degree in either computer science or electrical engineering. Applicants who wish to advance to the directorial level may need a master's degree or PhD in an engineering field or other field. For food quality assurance jobs, especially those at the manager level, bachelor's degrees in food sciences and production sciences are desired. For director level positions, a master's degree or PhD may be required.
For hotel quality assurance jobs and office quality assurance jobs at the manager level, applicants should hold a bachelor's degree in business or a related field. Hotel quality assurance positions related to the design and construction of hotel properties may also require a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.
Job Outlook
Quality assurance positions in manufacturing are projected to decline slightly through 2016 as manufacturing positions in general slowly contract. In addition, with the current real estate and hotel market, quality assurance positions in those fields should also become highly competitive. Software quality assurance management positions are projected to grow slightly faster than those in other industries, as demand for new software is projected to continue to grow.
Quality Assurance Activities and Work Environment
Quality assurance activities and work environments are dependent on the fields that employ the quality assurance manager or director.
Hotel quality assurance managers who are responsible for the construction of hotels based on the environment and building plan may word on-site, working with the architect, as well as working closely with the construction engineers to ensure that all building materials used meet requirements for the structure. Hotel quality assurance managers who inspect hotel franchises and chains may have to travel extensively to visit and inspect each property to ensure that the standards of the chain or franchise properly implement amenities and services for the guests.
Office quality assurance managers also may have extensive travel requirements depending where the office buildings are located. Some international businesses utilize office quality assurance managers to ensure all worldwide locations meet basic needs outlined by corporate policy. This may include ensuring that meeting rooms are state of the art, with projectors, video conference systems and high-speed internet connections.
Other areas the office quality assurance manager may inspect include ensuring that office policies are followed with respect to the availability of office space, computers, printers, and fax machines, and that the furniture and location meet the standards of the company.
Software quality assurance managers and directors may be required to implement project management standards ensuring that the software developed meets the business requirements, as well as the functional requirements without defects. Software quality assurance managers may work closely with the project manager and programming staff to ensure that the quality outlined in the project management plan and work breakdown structure are appropriately applied throughout every step, avoiding rework.
Industrial production managers also have positions that vary by industry. However, most production managers are responsible for the implementation of efficiency standards to avoid any rework as well as working with production supervisors, designers and engineers to ensure that processes meet quality criteria to help avoid rework. Industrial production managers also have the responsibility for handling logistical planning, especially in reducing the amount of inventory on hand. They also may be responsible for implementing and managing Six Sigma projects to ensure business processes and production runs consistently deliver high-quality products.
Food quality assurance managers also have positions that vary by the type of food product the company processes. The food quality assurance manager must be familiar with the United States Department of Agriculture standards to ensure that all foods produced are safe and free from any contaminants from the production process. The food quality assurance manager also bears responsibility for quality assurance technicians and laboratory personnel who inspect every step from delivery of raw ingredients to the processing and, finally, shipping of the finished product.
Areas to Highlight in a Cover Letter or Resume
Quality assurance management has a common theme of ensuring that the processes implemented result in a quality output. Areas to highlight are, thus, industry-specific. However, skills that are used by all quality assurance managers include the use of design processes to avoid defects. Because the quality manager or director will need to present findings to management, presentation skills and written communication skills will also be important for an applicant to highlight on a resume or cover letter.
Applicants who are able to demonstrate times when they utilized plans and guidelines to evaluate and audit the product to determine if there were defects should stress these experiences. Employers are also looking for applicants who understand how to work with line management to solve the issues that result in the defects, thereby preventing any future problems.
Conclusion
High-paying quality assurance jobs are available in many different industries. With the high cost of raw materials and labor, companies will continue to utilize quality assurance managers and directors during the next ten years. The competition in declining industries will be fierce, while other industries, such as the software industry, will show growth in their numbers of available positions.
