Quality Assurance Manager Responsibilities And Functions

Updated 12 September 2023

Quality assurance managers ensure that a company's products and services meet predefined acceptability thresholds. They plan, coordinate and implement quality assurance programmes and policies to improve an organisation's efficiency, reduce waste and increase profitability. If you are interested in a quality assurance manager career, knowing the role's duties and tasks can help you decide whether this is the right career path. In this article, we discuss quality assurance manager responsibilities, explore the daily responsibilities of the role and share tips on how to succeed in your quality management career.

Please note that none of the companies, institutions or organisations mentioned in this article are associated with Indeed.

Overview Of Quality Assurance Manager Responsibilities And Duties

Quality assurance manager responsibilities vary depending on the industry and company where they work. Here is a list of typical duties and responsibilities of a quality assurance specialist:

Develop and implement strategies to improve the production process
Plan, execute and monitor product testing
Analyse production data to identify areas of growth
Maximise the profitability of the company by enhancing product quality
Ensure that the product undergoes stringent testing and auditing before reaching the consumer
Ensure that all legal standards and laws get met
Review existing production policies and standards and identify the scope of growth
Review the organisation's processes to ensure that it complies with local, national and global policies
Produce timely reports and documentation to track production progress
Prepare documentation of internal quality control audits and quality checks
Identify training requirements to improve production quality
Provide training to production engineers and assembly line staff to enhance the quality of product
Read customer complaints and feedback to identify areas of improvement

Daily Responsibilities Of A Quality Assurance Manager

Here is a list of a quality assurance manager's day-to-day duties and activities:

Quality management functions

The primary responsibility of a quality assurance manager is to ensure that all products and services meet established quality standards. To achieve this, they perform the following duties:

Keep themselves updated with internal, external, local, national and global rules of manufacturing, selling and shipping
Prepare and update the internal quality documentation based on recognised standards, such as the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO)
Create industry-specific manuals and protocols
Work with external organisations to get the company certified with applicable standards
Ensure the implementation of quality control procedures at every step of the production process
Plan, schedule and conduct internal quality audits
Ensure the availability of tools to facilitate product quality checking
Select quality inspection software and tools to support the quality inspection team
Implement product inspection and tests
Take appropriate corrective actions to rectify quality problems
Take preventive quality control actions by identifying potential sources of error and suggesting ways to eliminate them
Implement continuous process improvements using the right strategies like Six Sigma and lean manufacturing
Identify ways to eliminate production waste and reduce the carbon footprint of the organisation

Administrative functions

Quality assurance managers interact and engage with employees across different levels. They lead a team of quality control experts who perform the detailed assessment of products and components at various stages of production. Here are a few administrative functions that quality assurance managers handle as part of their daily role:

Monitor the production line and stop production when they notice any product defects or improper safety mechanisms
Work closely with production engineers, product designers and human resources team members to identify and rectify quality control issues
Report quality issues to superiors whenever required
Consult with legal counsel on quality issues
Coordinate quality control issues amongst different departments of an organisation
Serve as the liaison between the management and external standards agencies
Compile quality information for the management
Participate in various meetings regarding production quality within the organisation
Attend seminars, conferences and trade fairs related to product quality and safety
Assist senior management in preparing annual budgets and financial statements

Supply chain functions

The quality of raw materials and components impacts the company's output quality significantly. As part of their role, quality assurance managers participate in the supplier selection process. They review supplier proposal documents and conduct on-site audits of supplier premises to identify and select suitable suppliers. These professionals work closely with shortlisted suppliers to ensure that all incoming raw materials, parts and components comply with manufacturing standards. Quality assurance managers also note any quality deviations and immediately correct them. They also conduct periodic evaluations of supplier performances to ensure that the supplier provides parts and raw materials per agreed expectations.

Quality training and leadership functions

As a quality assurance manager, your duty can also include conducting seminars and presentations to ensure all employees working on the production line are aware of quality standards. Quality managers provide regular and periodic training to production line employees, instructing them on the latest quality procedures and policies. During the launch of new products, quality managers work with the product development team to establish quality standards that comply with the overall policies and requirements of the company. The quality manager is also responsible for hiring junior quality controllers and training them on implementing various quality control checks.

Data analysis functions

Excellent quantitative measurement and analysis skills can help you succeed as a quality assurance manager. Quality managers review statistical data from the production line to identify and eliminate any potential quality problems. They analyse production data and recommend changes to the production process to eliminate quality issues. They also analyse product returns and customer complaints to identify specific quality problems and trends. Quality assurance managers implement continuous quality improvement programs to reduce product defects and improve quality. Regular quality monitoring programs help reduce manufacturing costs, improve overall product quality and enhance brand reputation.

Client-related functions

Quality assurance managers work alongside product designers, project managers and other senior managers to ensure that all client requirements get recorded correctly in the internal documents before proceeding with production. They respond to client complaints and feedback, conduct root cause analysis and take corrective actions. They also attend periodic client meetings and answer any queries that the client might have about product quality.

Tips To Succeed In Your Role As A Quality Assurance Manager

If you are starting a new role as a quality assurance manager, these tips can help you build a successful career:

Learn the plant's processes

Understanding the critical processes of the company, production plant or organisation can help you identify potential quality issues and implement suitable measures to correct them. If possible, spend some time operating critical machinery and equipment to gain a practical understanding of the production line. It can also help you build a positive relationship with machinery operators, who can alert you about quality issues once you begin the role.

Visit key customers

A quality manager acts as a liaison between the company and customers. Visiting the company's priority customers can help you understand their quality control issues and decide how to rectify them. You can ask the following questions during client visits to better understand their feedback or complaints about the company's products and services from a quality perspective:

What is their view on the plant's quality performance?
What would they like you to change about the product?
What do they expect from you?

The primary goal is to establish a relationship with your top customers so that you can identify any quality issues and improve them.

Spend time with other team leaders and managers

Building a collaborative relationship with your peers can help you identify potential quality control issues before they become a significant problem. Spend one-on-one time with managers of other departments like engineering, product design, finance, logistics and human resources to gain the trust of your peers. For example, during your discussion, the engineering team lead might alert you to the deterioration in the quality of raw materials. By establishing a smooth working relationship with other team leaders, you can gain valuable insights that help you achieve quality goals.

Focus on continuous improvement

Quality assurance is an ongoing process. You can consider earning a certification in continuous improvement principles to implement quality control techniques more efficiently. Organise regular meetings with your team members and other team leaders to discuss quality problems and identify ways to rectify them.

Adopt the right tools

The right tools and an efficient quality management system (QMS) can help you quickly monitor and identify quality issues. Get feedback from other quality control team members like quality technicians, inspectors, auditors and engineers to identify issues they face on the job. Brainstorm with your team members to identify the right tools to improve the company's quality assurance. For example, if the team requires an automated quality control tool, you can negotiate with senior management to purchase the equipment for the quality control team.