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What Can You Do With a Quality Management Degree?

Learn what careers you can pursue with a quality management degree.

Experts say we are currently amidst our fourth industrial revolution, driven by artificial intelligence, machine learning, high-tech machinery, and other advanced technology. The manufacturing industry is booming as a result. There is a growing need for manufacturing workers to take on new, exciting, and innovative roles.

Quality management is an area of manufacturing that is especially in demand. Many people are interested in this field because of the nature of the work: You have the unique opportunity to ensure that manufactured materials and goods are ready to be used or sold to consumers. Who ensures that toys are working after production? Who ensures that car parts meet their intended specifications? This is often the job of someone in quality management.

You may be thinking that quality management sounds like a great career path, but what do you need to get there? And what careers are out there? Quality management careers typically require postsecondary education, like a degree, though this varies by role. What can you do with a quality management degree, exactly?

Quality Management Career Options

If you have a sharp eye for detail and top-quality goods, a career in quality management is a great fit. This field ensures that only acceptable, functional, quality products are distributed to businesses and consumers. Still wondering what you can do with a quality management degree?

Good news: There is a wide variety of career options available, in many different settings for well-trained candidates who have the right combination of education and experience. Many of the Quality Management Systems program graduates at Goodwin University, for example, find work they love under the following job titles:

  • Calibration Technician

Calibration technicians plan and develop communication equipment in a manufacturing facility. They typically work in product evaluation and testing, using measuring and diagnostic devices to test, adjust, and repair equipment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), calibration technicians earned a median salary of $67,550 in 2020. The BLS expects this job to grow 2% between 2020 and 2030.

  • Manufacturing Quality Inspector

Manufacturing quality inspectors monitor the quality of incoming and outgoing products for companies. These professionals conduct product tests, operate electronic inspection software, read blueprints and specification sheets, analyze measurements, and write reports on inspections. They monitor operations to meet production standards, discard all products that fail to meet those standards, and supervise production processes—recommending any adjustments to be made. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, quality inspectors earned a median salary of $40,460 in 2020. About 54,900 job openings for quality control inspectors are projected each year, on average, between 2020 and 2030.

  • Supplier Quality Assurance Supervisor

Supplier quality assurance supervisors play an important role in the manufacturing field. These professionals ensure that products manufactured at their facility are uniform, safe, produced at a high quality, and picked in the correct quantity. According to Payscale.com, supplier quality assurance supervisors make an average annual salary of $62,807.

  • Quality Auditor

Quality auditors oversee the inspection of products or services to make sure they meet all requirements and standards. This includes managing quality control audits, developing testing parameters for products, as well as reviewing and recommending new processes, and solving any errors or inconsistencies. Quality auditors look to minimize cost and maximize efficiency to sustain customer loyalty and maintain the company’s overall reputation. According to Salary.com, supplier quality auditors make $87,928 per year, on average.

  • Quality Technician

Quality technicians help keep unsatisfactory products from reaching store shelves. They inspect, accept, or reject products for durability, function, customer satisfaction, and overall quality. In the manufacturing field, quality technicians examine everything – from simple items like paper clips and toys, to more complex machines like X-rays, computer chips, and pacemakers. Quality technicians also monitor testing procedures, interpret results, capture data into program software, ensure equipment is calibrated, and they also train new technicians. According to Salary.com, these professionals earn an average annual salary of $47,778.

These are just a few examples of the many career choices available to those who pursue a quality management degree.

Are you ready to jumpstart your career? Learn about the quality management program at Goodwin University by calling 800-889-8232, or visit us online to request more information.