Quality Assurance Supervisor Job Description, Key Duties and Responsibilities

By | June 25, 2024
Quality Assurance Supervisor Job Description
Quality assurance supervisors make sure products or services meet the laid down standards, regulatory guidelines, and customer expectations.

This post provides detailed information on the quality assurance supervisor job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they commonly perform.

It also highlights the major requirements that candidates are usually expected to fulfill to be hired for the quality assurance supervisor role by most recruiters/employers.

What Does A Quality Assurance Supervisor Do?

The quality assurance supervisor’s chief responsibility is to make sure products or services meet the laid down standards, regulatory guidelines, and customer expectations.

According to the North Carolina State University’s Online and Distance Education web page, the duties of a quality assurance supervisor entails the effective supervision of staff involved in quality assurance and ensuring that faults in manufactured products and solution are prevented or reduced to the barest minimum.

The quality assurance supervisor job description entails inspecting quality control procedures, spotting areas of improvement and spearheading corrective actions.

It also includes performing audits and testing and inspections to ensure compliance is followed in line with established protocols

Quality assurance supervisors may also take part in training exercises, supplier assessment and continuous improvements activities.

They conduct data analysis and reporting in detail quality metrics.

The role of the quality assurance supervisor is a significant one as they are needed in industries like pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, software development, and food production.

Countries with tight regulatory bodies like the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Union’s CE have parking standards that depend on the quality assurance supervisor, in making sure that there is strict adherence to standards.

The quality assurance supervisor is in charge of a team of quality assurance inspectors, auditors, and technicians.

They work alongside other departments, like engineering, production, and customer service.

Employers who look to hire quality assurance professionals want applicants who hold a Bachelor’s degree in a pertinent field, such as engineering, computer science, or business.

Moreover, apart from the educational requirement, employers usually prefer candidates who boast of several years of hands-on experience working in quality assurance positions.

This non-theoretical experience helps ensure that candidates understand the day-to-day obligations and challenges of quality assurance work.

In addition to the educational and experience prerequisites, employers may also give precedence to candidates who bring specialized certifications.

Some in-demand certifications in the quality assurance field include:

  • ISO auditing certifications: These confirm an individual’s expertise in administering audits and assessments to ascertain compliance with ISO quality management standards.
  • Six Sigma certifications: Six Sigma training provides its tutees a structured problem-solving methodology that is broadly used in quality control and process improvement. Belt-level Six Sigma certifications signify a candidate’s expertise in applying these techniques.
  • Industry-specific credentials: Depending on the sector, there may be supplementary quality-focused certifications that are prized by employers, such as those corresponding to aerospace, automotive, or pharmaceutical manufacturing standards.

Bagging one or more of these exclusive certifications can remarkably improve a candidate’s marketability and chances of being singled out for quality assurance roles.

The blend of a relevant Bachelor’s degree, quality assurance work experience, and professional certifications confers on an applicant a highly attractive and competitive standing in this field.

By intensely monitoring products, analyzing data, and working together with cross-functional teams, the quality assurance supervisor helps to steer continuous improvement and prevent costly quality issues that could harm the brand’s reputation.

In a time where consumers demand ever-higher levels of product quality and reliability, the office of the quality assurance supervisor has never been more critical.

They serve as the custodian of quality, using their competence, attention to detail, and dynamic problem-solving skills to look after the integrity of the company’s offerings and ensure customer satisfaction.

Through their conscientious efforts, the quality assurance supervisor performs a crucial role in securing a company’s long-term competitive edge and market leadership.

Quality Assurance Supervisor Job Description Example/ Sample/Template

The quality assurance supervisor job description involves the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:

  • Help develop and execute quality control procedures, policies, and standards in line with regulatory bodies and best practices
  • Recruit, train, and supervise a team of quality assurance professionals to engender a corporate culture of continuous improvement
  • Carry out frequent audits and inspections to evaluate product quality, spot defects and execute corrective actions
  • Carry out root cause analysis and execute preventive steps to minimize defects and  quality issues
  • Conduct data analysis, spot trends, and create detailed reports for management review
  • Work hand in hand with other departments to fix quality issues and improve processes
  • Investigate customer complaints and resolve them in a timely and professional manner
  • Assess and approve suppliers’ materials and components, ensuring they are up to the mark with industry standard
  • Train and groom junior quality assurance professionals, thereby creating a solid talent pipeline
  • Be a key part of risk management exercises, spotting potential threats and recommending mitigation steps
  • Execute and maintain quality management system (QMS) and make sure there is compliance with ISO or other industry-specific standards
  • Manage quality control budget, ensuring proper resource allocation
  • Develop appropriate calibration programs for testing equipment and instruments
  • Stay up-to-date with industry changes, trend, and technologies
  • Create a culture of quality awareness and accountability inside the organization.

Quality Assurance Supervisor Job Description for Resume

If you have worked previous in the position of quality assurance supervisor or are presently working in that role and are making a resume or CV for a new job, then you can create a compelling Professional Experience section for your resume by applying the above quality assurance supervisor job description sample.

You can show the duties and responsibilities you have performed or currently carrying out as a quality assurance supervisor in your resume’s Professional Experience by highlighting the ones in the job description example above.

This will serve as a proof of your effectiveness in performing the duties and responsibilities of a quality assurance supervisor, which can give a boost to your resume and your chances of being hired for the new role, especially if the new job that you are seeking requires someone with some quality assurance supervisor work experience.

Quality Assurance Supervisor Requirements: Skills, Abilities, and Knowledge for Career Success

If you are applying for the quality assurance supervisor position, here are important requirements most employers/recruiters may want you to meet:

  • Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills to assess risk and take proper measures
  • Project management skills to coordinate quality project and deliver within budget and time scope
  • Expert in data analysis and reporting tools like SPC software, Excel, and Minitab
  • Familiarity with industry best practices, standards, and regulations
  • Have keen attention to details and dedication to continuous improvement
  • Possess team management and leadership prowess to guide quality assurance professionals
  • Able to communicate clearly and collaborate well with others across different departments. Can also document and present information properly
  • Possess sound knowledge of quality control principles like Statistical process control, Six Sigma and lean manufacturing.

Quality Assurance Supervisor Employment

The number of quality assurance supervisors currently in employment in the United States is 155,106, according to data by Zippia.

According to the survey, the average age of an employed quality assurance supervisor is 46, with most of them men at 96,941 employments, while women are 58,165.

The States with the highest number of jobs for quality assurance supervisors include:

  • California, 5,372
  • Texas, 2,290
  • Florida, 1,712
  • Illinois, 1,681
  • Pennsylvania, 1,681.

Industries that have the highest number of employed quality assurance supervisors include manufacturing (34,123 employments) and Fortune 500 (27,919).

Quality Assurance Supervisor Salary

According to Zippia, the average salary for a quality assurance supervisor in the United States is $66,145 per year.

The highest paying states for quality assurance supervisors include:

  • Wyoming, $87,758
  • California, $87,202
  • Delaware, $84,585
  • Maryland, $84,194
  • New York, $84,053

Industries that pay the highest salaries to quality assurance supervisors include: health care, with average annual salary of $80,377, and pharmaceutical, $75,726.

Quality Assurance Supervisors Resource

Here are valuable resources to help you develop and advance in your career as a quality assurance supervisor:

Professional Organizations:

Society of Quality Assurance (SQA)The Society of Quality Assurance is focused in promoting and advancing the principles,ethics, and knowledge of quality assurance for the enhancement of human, animal, and environmental health. Quality Management Committee (QMC)The Quality Management Committee is helping to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Quality Assurance throughout the Federal OIG community. The Global Association for Quality Management (GAQM)GAQM provides internationally accredited training and certification that is of high-quality in the fields of Management Science and Information Technology.

Conclusion

The quality assurance supervisor occupies a central part in upholding the company’s stance on quality – right from the sourcing of raw materials to the final stages of assembly and packaging.

They must meticulously supervise each step of the manufacturing workflow, executing robust quality control action and quickly addressing any deviation or defect that comes up.

This post covered what you need to know about the duties, tasks, and responsibilities that usually make up the quality assurance supervisor job description.

If you are aspiring to get into the quality assurance supervisor career, 0this article has explained all you need to know about what they do. As an employer, you can use the content of this post to draft a comprehensive job description for the quality assurance supervisor position that can attract competent candidates to the team.