You could:
- make sure required standards and regulations are met
- inspect and test products or processes
- identify faults or errors
- record and tell other people about complaints and fixes
- design, review and update quality control policies
Quality Control Assistant
Also known as
Quality control technician, quality assurance inspector
Become a “hero of science"
Quality control assistants may work in many different places, but their focus is always the same: to check, test, and record if a company's services or products meet expected standards.
At a glance
What can you expect from this role?
Average salary per year
£20000
Starter
Experienced
£20000
£30000
Typical hours
41 to 43 a week
You could work evenings / weekends on shifts
Flexible working hours?
Need a lab coat?
Potentially!
What to expect
Day-to-day tasks
Working environment
You could work in a laboratory, in a factory or in an office.
More Information
Career tips
You may find it helps you apply for jobs in quality control if you have some knowledge of British quality standards and methods.
Further information
You can find out more about working in quality control through the Chartered Quality Institute.
Explore the different ways to get into this role
People in these types of job started their career paths after studying courses like the ones below.
University
You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree. Subjects that cover quality control include: production management business…
Apprenticeship
You could take a Quality Practitioner Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship which usually takes a year and 2 months to complete.…
Direct Application
You could apply directly for jobs if you have a a lot of experience in other areas, like engineering or…
Other Routes
You could take a quality control qualifications through the Chartered Quality Institute or the Chartered Management Institute.
University
You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree.
Subjects that cover quality control include:
- production management
- business and management
- manufacturing engineering
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
More Information
Apprenticeship
You could take a Quality Practitioner Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship which usually takes a year and 2 months to complete.
With this apprenticeship, you could work in any industry or sector that has quality control processes.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
More Information
Direct Application
You could apply directly for jobs if you have a a lot of experience in other areas, like engineering or health and safety.
Other Routes
You could take a quality control qualifications through the Chartered Quality Institute or the Chartered Management Institute.
Discover the skills you need for this role
People in these types of job possess skills like the ones below.
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- the ability to analyse quality or performance
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be flexible and open to change
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
- active listening skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Career progression
Career progression opportunities include
With experience and training you could become a manager or move into research jobs.
Related Careers
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