A Quality Control (QC) Analyst checks or tests the product of a manufacturing process to make sure that it meets predefined quality or safety standards. The completion of this quality check ensures that the final product is safe for sale or distribution. He or she works in a range of industries such as car, electronics, aircraft, food and drink and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Some companies might call this role…

• Quality Control Associate
• Quality Control Technician
• QC Specialist
• QC Stability Coordinator (Senior Analyst)

Let’s take a closer look at the details of quality control and the role of a Quality Control Analyst.

Quality Control is product-oriented and focuses on testing a sample of a manufacturing process to make sure it meets the required design specifications or quality standards. The product can then be released to the next stage of the production process or deemed suitable to be released for sale or distribution. 100% sampling or Statistical Process Control (SPC) are some of the more widely used techniques in quality control.

The Quality Control department will test the product at various points along the manufacturing process as well as testing the final product. Each test measurement is compared to the standards as defined in the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

If the test shows the product deviates from the standard it could be destroyed or reworked (depending on the industry) and actions taken to adjust the manufacturing process to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

The standards that test measurements are compared with are internal standards, external regulations and industry-wide standards. Clear documentation must be kept to show that rigorous Quality Control has been carried out before products were authorised for release.

The type of testing used is highly dependent on the product or industry.

In pharmaceutical manufacturing, quality control includes ensuring the product does not make a patient sick, so the company performs chemical and microbiological testing of samples from the production line. As the sample testing is done in a laboratory, people who work in quality control usually have a laboratory/science background.

In automobile manufacturing, quality control focuses on how parts fit together and interact and makes sure the engines operate smoothly and efficiently.

In electronics, quality testing could involve using meters that measure the flow of electricity.

In all cases, a defective product can mean significant harm to a patient, driver or pedestrian or consumer. Maintaining the highest levels of product quality is essential.

Quality Control Analysts are also sometimes referred to as Quality Control Associates, Quality Control Technicians or Quality Control Specialists. The tasks assigned to any one individual can vary greatly depending on the product being produced, but tasks might include:

• Inspecting, checking and testing products to confirm they meet quality standards or relevant legislation.
• Keeping accurate results of inspections, checks and tests.
• When defects are found – make sure they are analysed and carefully logged into production documentation.
• Ensuring that measuring and testing equipment are set up and working properly.
• Conducting root cause analysis to find the sources of defects or quality problems.
• Conducting risk assessment analysis to pre-empt and quality problems or issues.
• Testing products bought in from suppliers.
• Providing assistance to production staff where necessary regarding Quality Control procedures
• Completion of documentation to show that tests have been carried out and recording whether the product met the standards or not
• Collecting information and writing up reports on any findings to be passed on to managers
• Work together with QC and other departments to find solutions and implement new protocols and procedures in response to deviations
• Compiling test measurements and outcomes into reports for senior colleagues

Take a look at this short video from the About Bioscience website, produced by the North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research (NCABR). It gives a great outline of a ‘day in the life’ of a Quality Control Analyst.

The paths into a Quality Control Analyst’s role are wide and varied and depend on the particular sector you are working such as manufacturing, the service sector, pharmaceutical or medical device manufacturing, software development, aviation, oil and gas, regulatory compliance, etc.

Some employers accept a high school-level education in science subjects and relevant industry experience, especially for those employees possessing the key attributes. Many companies will provide on-the-job training in quality control systems to candidates showing the right traits and skills.

Others may want you to have an associate degree in a relevant engineering or laboratory science discipline while others may require a bachelor of  Engineering or Science (B.S.) degree in chemistry or biology.

Certifications can also help your career prospects in certain countries (Do note that recognition of qualifications varies from industry to industry). For example, The American Society for Quality offers a Quality Certification along with other industry certifications that deal with various aspects of quality practices.

The ideal skill set for someone moving into Quality Control includes:

• Team working – Quality Control Analysts and Associates often work in teams to gather and analyse data
• Keen attention to detail – must be able to quickly spot when something isn’t correct and take effective action, catching a problem early can reduce wasted time and product
• Good communication skills – this role requires working with people from across the manufacturing process and often working with production staff to discuss defects, adherence to protocols and implementing new quality SOPs.
• Excellent written communication – documentation is a key feature of these roles and an essential requirement of industry compliance
• Prioritisation skills – often working to deadlines and ensuring the manufacturing process is working efficiently at every stage, must be able to prioritise workload

If you already work in quality control in nutritional, beverage, food, or dairy manufacturing or similar industry and would like to retrain to perform the same or similar role within the pharmaceutical or medical device industry, check out our “Conversion Course into Pharma for Scientists”.

This program is the quickest way to learn all you need to, to successfully move into Quality Control or Quality Assurance roles in Pharmaceutical or Medical Device manufacturing from a different industry.

Depending on your previous experience, here are some of the most common quality control related job titles we see advertised;

• Quality Control
• Quality Control Microbiology Analyst
• Quality Control Specialist,
• Quality Control Analyst FTC
• Senior Quality Control Analyst
• QC Analyst, QC Scientist
• QC Micro Technician
• QC Microbiology Analyst
• QC Drug Product Technologist
• QC Stability Co-ordinator (Senior Analyst)
• QC Specialist -LIMS
• QC Biochemist UA

Check out our salary guide for Quality Control Analyst’s salary information local to you.

As with all resumes, it’s extremely important that you tailor your Quality Control Analyst’s resume to reflect the language used within the job advert. Where you have relevant experience or skills, use the words and phrases that the employer has used to describe them. Do not assume that someone will read similar wording and know what you mean.

Quality Control Analyst’s roles will typically be looking for the skills previously outlined:

• Team working
• Keen attention to detail
• Good communication skills
• Excellent written communication
• Prioritisation skills

For more help with your resume, check out these templates and this list of 30 tips to improve your resume.

For more information on currently available Quality Control Analysts roles, head to our pharmaceutical jobs board for Ireland and our pharmaceutical jobs board for the UK and select Quality in the “Jobs by Category” menu.

Manufacturing/Production

• Process Technician
• Process Operator
• Manufacturing Technician
• Packaging Operator
• Production Supervisor

Engineering

• Process Engineer
• Manufacturing Engineer
• Instrumentation Engineer
• Project Engineer
• Automation Engineer

Maintenance

• Facilities Engineer
• Calibration Technician
• Maintenance Technician

Quality

• Quality Engineer
• Documentation Specialist
• Quality Assurance Specialist

Science/Laboratory

• Biochemist
• Laboratory Technician
• Microbiologist

Validation

• Validation Engineer
• CQV Engineer
• Validation Technician
• CSV Engineer

• Equipment Validation (IQ OQ PQ) Training Course – For Starter Validation, CQV and C&Q Roles
• Pharmaceutical Validation Training Course – For Senior Validation, CQV and C&Q Roles
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