What Does A Quality Inspector Do? (With Skills And Salary)

Updated 14 March 2023

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Quality inspectors oversee the standards and quality of manufactured products to improve customer satisfaction. There are many industries that rely on quality control and offer various job opportunities to quality inspectors. If you are interested in becoming a quality inspector, you can benefit from learning what they do and what skills they require. In this article, we explain "What does a quality inspector do?" and explore the steps to become one.

What does a quality inspector do?

If are wondering “What does a quality inspector do?”, their main responsibility is to oversee the entire process of production and operations. Here are some of their day-to-day duties:

inspecting and managing each step of the manufacturing process as per the company's policies and standards
checking the quality of the raw material and making necessary adjustments
keeping and maintaining detailed records of the manufacturing process and manufactured products
ensuring safety and health of the employees working in the manufacturing process
creating reports on the quality of manufactured products and submitting them to the supervisors such as a quality controller or quality manager
making special documentation of the defective products and implementing measures to improve product quality
ensuring the quality of products is good enough to satisfy their customers
setting rules for maintaining standards and discussing them with their team members
outlining the standards in a document that employees can use as a reference during assessments
performing regular quality inspections on existing and new products to check quality levels
testing various instruments and equipment used in the manufacturing process
removing products with any defect or damage

Important skills for a quality inspector

A quality inspector needs a mix of hard and soft skills to succeed in their career, including:

Communication skills

Excellent written and oral communication skills help quality inspectors in their day-to-day responsibilities. A quality inspector with great verbal communication skills can help to build a positive and energetic environment in the workplace. They can motivate employees to achieve great results.

Written communication skills help quality inspectors to make contact with clients and supervisors in a professional way. Good written skills help them in maintaining proper documentation of the manufacturing process. It makes it easier for quality inspectors to communicate with their team members and convey quality standards and policies.

Attention to detail

Having a logical approach and keeping attention to all the necessary details can help quality inspectors to succeed in their careers. With the help of this skill, they can spot any damages or defects in a product. Sometimes a minute error can cause a big issue. To avoid such situations, quality inspectors use attention to detail and detect errors. They also find possible solutions to fix the issue as soon as possible.

Technical skills

Many companies hire quality inspectors with great technical skills. Having a basic understanding of technology and how to use basic applications can help you in this career. Knowledge of various technical terms and techniques can help you during the hiring process. Quality inspectors use different devices for measuring and testing products. So, basic knowledge about such devices can help them easily perform their duties.

Physical fitness

Being physically fit allows quality inspectors to stand and work for long hours at manufacturing facilities. Many companies prefer hiring quality inspectors with high endurance as they can be more productive and flexible in the workplace. Good physical health helps them to work for extra hours and also helps in keeping themselves motivated.

Analytical skills

Quality inspectors with great analytical skills are able to gather and analyse necessary information so that they can use them to solve problems in an efficient way. They use their analytical skills in different ways such as performing research while finding errors and problems. Analytical skills also help them in solving problems effectively and organising each step involved in the manufacturing process.

Monitoring and controlling skills

Operations monitoring and controlling skills can help quality inspectors to oversee the entire process of production and manufacturing effectively. Monitoring all the processes in the production and manufacturing can help them to increase efficiency, which directly improves the quality of the product. It also helps them in conducting tests of manufactured products and determining the quality of the product. These tests allow them to evaluate and decide if there is any need for improvement.

Time management

As a quality inspector, you may require good time management skills to complete different projects on time. Quality inspectors with great time management skills know very well how to schedule their tasks and manage their team. It can also help them to prioritise their tasks and complete every process within the given time. If there are employees working under a quality inspector, they may rely on the inspector to assign them tasks. This is why time management is critical for these professionals.

Problem-solving skills

With the help of problem-solving skills, quality inspectors can evaluate and pick up hidden problems and then implement necessary measures to solve them. The ability to solve problems efficiently can be an important skill for quality inspectors to make their careers successful. They can start with identifying the problem and looking for possible solutions. After finding the best possible solution, a quality inspector implements it and monitors the progress.

How to become a quality inspector

Here are the essential steps to become a quality inspector:

1. Complete your education

Candidates with a minimum of 50% marks in their 10+2 can choose to pursue a career as a quality inspector. An intermediate degree in the science stream with subjects like physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology and computer science is the basic requirement to become a quality inspector. After completing 10+2, candidates can complete their bachelor's degree in a relevant subject. Here are some popular bachelor courses that you can pursue if you want to become a quality inspector:

B.Tech. in food technology
B.Tech. in instrumentation and control engineering
B.Tech. in quality management
B.Tech. in industrial engineering
B.Tech. in materials engineering

The educational requirement for becoming a quality inspector may vary from company to company. For example, some companies hire candidates with a bachelor's degree, while some hire candidates with a master's degree for senior quality inspector roles. Many departments that manufacture or produce products hire quality inspectors. Candidates can also enhance their careers by gaining an MBA degree in quality management.

2. Earn certifications

Pursuing certification courses can help candidates showcase their skills and expertise during the interview process. Certifications show your level of knowledge and can also make your resume more appealing. Certification courses can provide you with great knowledge of how to perform product inspections, evaluate process performance and prepare reports. Here are some certifications that candidates can gain to become a quality inspector:

Advance Certificate Course in Inspection & Quality Control
Quality Inspector Certification
Certificate in Construction Quality and Safety Management

3. Join an internship

Many companies offer internship opportunities to potential candidates in the quality control department. Internships provide the opportunity to work with supervisors, technicians or quality engineers. This can help you have a decent understanding of how to use their skills and knowledge. During an internship, you can engage in all stages of the project and learn to perform tests, instal applications and organise testing activities.

Average salary of a quality inspector

The average salary of a quality inspector is ₹18,385 per month. The salary of these professionals may vary depending on their company, job role and work experience. Many companies hire quality inspectors with more experience for senior job roles and pay higher salaries. The salary can also depend on industry-specific qualifications and the job location. For example, the average salary of a quality inspector in Kolkata, West Bengal is ₹12,650 per month, while the average salary of a quality inspector in Mumbai, Maharashtra is ₹14,623 per month. Quality inspectors in different departments can have different salaries.

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.

Please note that none of the companies mentioned in this article are affiliated with Indeed.