Employment in Quality Management

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Jobs in Quality Assurance and Career Opportunities

Since the growth of interest and development of the use of Quality Assurance within business there has been a need for companies to employ personnel to put the concept into effect. Manufacturing had previously proceeded on the basis of inspection and verification and indeed minimising all expenditure thereon. As parts were produced and before they were assembled in any way they were subjected to often detailed inspection to ensure they had been made to specification principally as to size and dimension. Accordingly the first people to be designated for specific employment in Quality Assurance were mechanical inspectors. Their background therefore tended to be in the main from production and mechanical engineering. As their knowledge, ability and skill developed against the new techniques of Quality Assurance it meant they were spending a greater proportion of their time on this new development. Hence they were slowly re-assigned and re-designated to become quality engineers progressing eventually to quality managers.

Very quickly during the decade of the 1950's and onward the Quality Assurance work force increased enormously mainly because of the benefits which manufacturing could achieve from adopting these newer techniques. On the world scene the growth in 'quality' was originally in the USA but the real push for adoption and use occurred in Japan during the sixties and seventies. These were two decades when Japanese industry expanded in a variety of ways; in volume but also in effectiveness. The classic headline of the time was the demise of the UK motor cycle manufacturing sector which was decimated by the growth of competing Japanese product. This situation quickly spread to Japanese motor manufacturers some of whom now rank amongst the biggest and most successful in the world. The Japanese Quality Assurance job sector has therefore expanded mightily.

By the 1980's the UK was beginning to catch up with world events on the Quality Assurance front aided by training assistance from government as detailed elsewhere. However the pick up of Quality Assurance and the resultant creation of jobs has been slow. It was perhaps not until this century dawned that UK industry made the gains and felt the advantage. Once again the motor industry is in the forefront with typical examples in Jaguar, Rover and McClaren although the way was lead by the stalwart Japanese examples of Nissan and Toyota. Today a job in Quality Assurance offers sound and continuing training and the likelihood of steady employment. Alongside the employed sector is a flourishing activity in self employed specialists and consultants providing their services in a wide range of Quality Assurance activities.

As the UK economy has moved away from manufacturing and placed increased emphasis upon the service sector the benefits of Quality Assurance have moved also. At the same time the economy overall grew considerably allowing jobs in Quality Assurance to also escalate. Changes and flexing was essential as this movement to service industry evolved. Manufacturing is physically creative meaning that Quality Assurance skills and ability which were originally developed for manufacturing following significant change and adaptation became equally effective in retail, banking, health; indeed every conceivable service activity known to man. Jobs in Quality Assurance developed with equal zest and effectiveness.

The growth and development of the processes and procedures of Quality Assurance has then, on a worldwide scale, created hundreds of thousands of jobs. Presently the UK is well set within this development with the Institute of Quality Assurance providing facilities for anyone to commence academic study in the rigors of Quality Assurance. Jobs in Quality Assurance provide a perfect setting for a long lasting working life coupled with career opportunities.