Quality control technician
Make sure products meet quality standards and are safe for customers to buy.
Also known as: quality control officer, quality inspector
About the job
What it's like
As Greek philosopher Aristotle said, 'Quality is not an act, but a habit.' In this role, you'll champion quality throughout your workplace.
Quality control technicians help establish and manage quality control systems. You'll make sure products meet quality standards and are safe for customers to buy.
You'll need technical knowledge of your industry. Quality control technicians should also have a strong awareness of quality control standards and legislation.
Your tasks might include:
dealing with feedback and complaints from customers
referring issues to managers when needed
assessing suppliers
checking and updating quality control policies
training new staff
writing reports for quality managers
Quality control technicians also have specialised tasks depending on where they work. For example, if you're working in food and drink production, you'll:
find and remove faults in the production process
test microbiological, chemical and physical samples
check labels and make sure methods are in line with legislation
If you work in manufacturing engineering, you might:
monitor each stage of production
use statistical analysis to make sure that machined parts are within tolerance limits
run tests for defects, for example electric vehicle battery-leak detection
Green job
In this job, you may do work that helps the environment. You could:
make sure products using energy are doing so efficiently
make production processes more sustainable by reducing waste
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
The Chartered Quality Institute – check out this organisation that supports quality management professionals
Chartered Management Institute – explore the professional body for people working in management and leadership positions
British Standards Institution – learn about this company that helps businesses across the United Kingdom apply quality standards
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Other careers that you might like
Materials technician Quality assurance officer
Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Food and drink Chemical sciences
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- attention to detail
- observation
- problem solving
- written communication
- working with technology
- verbal communication
- cooperating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Administration and Information Technology
Design and Manufacture
Practical Craft Skills
Science
Foundation Apprenticeship: Engineering
Foundation Apprenticeship: Food and Drink Technologies
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
There are many different ways you can become a quality control technician.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you find a job or progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Applied Sciences
Engineering
Chemistry
Biological Sciences
Manufacturing
Use the My World of Work course search to explore college opportunities.
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider a Science Industries Quality Technician Modern Apprenticeship.
University
A degree isn’t required for this job, but you could improve your knowledge by studying subjects such as:
Chemistry
Biological Sciences
Biochemistry
Engineering
Chemical Science
Food Science or Food Technology
Environmental Science
Work
You could start working as a quality control assistant, production operative or laboratory assistant. Once you've built some experience, you may be able to move into a quality control officer by training on the job.
For example, you could study a course offered through the Chartered Quality Institute.
When applying for quality control technician roles, it may help if you have some knowledge of quality standards and working methods.
Volunteering in a relevant role can help you build the skills and experience you’ll need to become a quality control technician. Search for laboratory or science-based opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
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