A quality assurance (QA) manager ensures that a product meets the required qualifications to become acceptable. He or she is responsible for planning, directing, and devising quality control policies. These policies must uphold the company’s efficiency and profitability by streamlining processes.
A QA manager’s primary goal is to ensure that any software or hardware his or her company produces meets both external and internal requirements before they get sold to customers. To achieve this, a QA manager must carefully inspect and identify flaws and other non-conformance issues and know how to measure the effectiveness of quality assurance teams.
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Read More about a “QA Manager”
Aside from having a keen eye for detail, what other qualities are expected of a QA manager? Let’s find out.
What are the Roles and Responsibilities of a QA Manager?
Basic Responsibilities
To make sure that each product maintains the highest quality, a QA manager must:
- Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for inspecting and reporting quality-related issues
- Closely monitor all operations related to quality compliance
- Oversee the processes of inspectors, technicians, and other team members
- Ensure the consistency of production by following procedures and checking the final outputs
- Analyze customer requirements and apply feedback to product development
- Assess flaws and errors and report these to higher-ups to facilitate immediate remedy
- Devise solutions to collect and analyze data
- Document quality reports, reviews, and other files to help perfect solutions
- Ensure legal compliance
- Communicate relevant findings during inspections to relevant stakeholders
Other Tasks
In some cases, QA managers are also responsible for training employees about quality management and maintenance.
IT QA managers are also expected to know about specific services, such as learning software, to measure quality levels, and maintain productivity effectively.
What does It Take to Become a QA Manager?
Education
The minimum educational requirement to become a QA manager is an associate degree in a related field. Still, most employers would prefer to hire someone with a bachelor’s degree in QA. Those with diplomas in manufacturing management can also secure the position.
Often, the path to becoming a QA manager begins with a pivotal role in the QA team and gaining the necessary experience and expertise before advancing to a managerial position.
Additional Knowledge and Training
Those who want to further their careers in QA would also do well by getting a master’s degree in business administration. Getting certifications from reputable institutions, such as the American Society for Quality, can also help them advance their careers and improve their opportunities.
How Much does a Quality Assurance Manager Earn on Average?
The average salary of a QA manager depends on the industry he or she works for. Those with a high demand for quality, especially in the technology sector, offer more competitive salaries.
Based on 2022 data, an IT QA manager can expect to receive an annual salary of US$128,250.
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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) believes the demand for QA managers will remain steady in the next few years, with particular growth in the computer and software testing areas.
Key Takeaways
- A QA manager ensures that products meet the specifications required to become acceptable.
- A QA manager is responsible for planning, directing, and devising quality control policies that must improve corporate efficiency and profitability by streamlining processes.
- A QA manager’s responsibilities include developing SOPs for inspecting and reporting quality-related issues; closely monitoring all operations related to quality compliance; and overseeing the processes inspectors, technicians, and other team members follow, among many others.
- Becoming a QA manager requires an associate degree in a related field.
- Based on 2022 data, an IT QA manager can expect to receive an average pay of US$128,250 each year.
