What a competent quality manager should know

Thread Content

What a competent quality manager should know and be able to do includes knowledge of product quality, acceptance standards for raw materials and auxiliary materials – including inspection standards and sampling criteria, acceptance standards for process products – also including inspection standards and sampling criteria, as well as standards for monitoring the execution of processes. There are also acceptance standards for finished products upon entry into storage – comprising inspection standards and sampling criteria – and acceptance standards for finished products when they are shipped – likewise including inspection standards and sampling criteria. The seven basic QC tools include check sheets, stratification methods, Pareto charts, cause-and-effect diagrams, scatter plots, histograms, and control charts. One must be able to apply these QC tools flexibly, taking into account the specific circumstances of one’s company, in order to identify problems, analyze them, determine the various causes behind them, identify the root causes, take corrective actions, and prevent similar problems from occurring again.

The GB2828 counting sampling inspection procedure should be applied, with consideration given to both GB2828 and the actual conditions of the company’s quality management system – such as customer priorities. It is necessary to learn how to determine AQL values, as well as how to develop sampling plans based on GB2828 and the company’s quality management needs. Conditions for switching from normal inspection to less stringent inspection, or from normal inspection to more rigorous sampling inspection, should also be determined based on the company’s actual situation.

Knowledge of the ISO9001 quality management system is essential; one should be familiar with its standards and able to apply them in light of the company’s specific circumstances. One should be capable of independently planning and drafting ISO9001-related documents, organizing internal audits, conducting training on the ISO9001 system within the company, and being aware of the certification process and related requirements under ISO9001.

QCC activities can be organized based on the company’s conditions, including identifying improvement topics and holding regular meetings to present the results of those improvements. It is important to supervise the work of various QC teams, including the selection of improvement topics and the development of improvement plans, as well as to monitor the implementation of these plans and their effectiveness. Planning, establishing, implementing, and improving QC improvement plans is also crucial. Knowledge of relevant laws and regulations related to quality management within the company is necessary, such as those related to product quality. This includes knowledge regarding the formation and management of quality management teams, the establishment of quality management structures and clear division of responsibilities, the planning, establishment, implementation, and improvement of performance evaluation systems for quality management teams, training and supervision of these teams, the development of a quality culture, and the establishment of quality management systems. This includes systems for accepting raw materials and auxiliary materials, accepting process products, monitoring process quality, accepting finished products upon entry into storage, accepting finished products when shipped, managing quality abnormalities and incidents, managing inspection equipment, laboratory management, management of laboratory reagents, managing supplier evaluations on-site, systems for labeling and traceability, managing customer complaints and feedback, managing customer returns and exchanges, training programs for quality managers, performance evaluation systems for quality managers, systems for handling defective products, quality improvement systems, systems for reworking products, quality reward systems, systems for accepting products with concessions, and systems for emergency release.

Establishing quality acceptance standards is important, including standards for accepting the quality of raw materials and auxiliary materials, semi-finished products, finished products upon entry into storage, and finished products when shipped. Communication and cooperation with relevant departments are also essential. Good communication channels should be maintained with the procurement department to ensure that suppliers provide products of consistent and high quality. Communication with the sales department helps to understand customer satisfaction levels and areas for improvement. Good communication with the production department is necessary to work together towards improving product quality and quality management, while also raising employees’ awareness of quality issues. Communication with the warehousing department ensures that products remain stable and compliant during storage. Collaboration with the technical department is important for continuous improvement of production processes. One should be able to organize regular quality analysis meetings and ensure that the actions recommended in these meetings are carried out.

It is advisable to create a daily schedule that allocates time for communicating with various departments, so as to build mutual understanding and improve working relationships. Handling quality incidents requires skillful management or supervision, including correcting issues, analyzing their causes, planning and implementing corrective and preventive measures, and verifying the effectiveness of these measures. The principle of “four nolets” in quality incident management should be strictly followed. One should be able to independently plan, establish, implement, and improve quality incident management plans, handle quality abnormalities within the company, and prepare reports on quality incident investigations, analyses, and resolutions.

Training in quality management is important; training courses such as those related to quality awareness, quality management processes, quality management skills, and quality audit techniques should be offered within the company. Training should also include case studies related to quality incidents in the company’s industry. Effective communication strategies should be developed for promoting quality management within the company. Quality improvement efforts should be independently planned and implemented within the company, and quality management reward and punishment systems should be developed in collaboration with the production, warehousing, and procurement departments to continuously improve the company’s quality management level. Quality improvement projects can be organized within departments to ensure consistent product quality. Based on daily quality management results, it is important to analyze situations and identify areas for improvement. Collaboration with relevant departments is necessary for carrying out quality improvement activities.

Supplier management and supervision involve working with the procurement department to select suppliers, conduct initial and regular evaluations, and organize on-site evaluations of suppliers. It is important to handle quality issues related to suppliers effectively. Collaboration with the procurement and technical departments is necessary to provide guidance to suppliers. Supply guarantee agreements should be independently planned and drafted. Effective communication with suppliers is important when it comes to accepting raw materials and auxiliary materials. Communication with customers involves handling quality issues such as customer complaints and ensuring consistency in product acceptance results. Customer audits should be organized, including preparation before the audit, handling the audit process, and making improvements after the audit. After-sales service should be provided in collaboration with the sales department. When necessary, visits to customers’ sites should be arranged in coordination with the sales department. Preparation for such visits is important. Effective communication with regulatory authorities is necessary to handle unexpected inspections by these authorities. Effective communication with regulatory authorities helps to gain their support and understanding. It is important to handle situations where regulatory authorities find quality issues during inspections. Certification related to quality management should be supervised properly. Consultation services related to quality management can be provided in collaboration with external consultants. Knowledge of standards and regulations related to quality certification is essential.

Adherence to quality management principles is important, but it is also necessary to be flexible when dealing with various quality-related tasks. It is important to balance quality management principles with economic costs in order to reduce costs associated with quality management. Different situations require different approaches when balancing quality management principles with various exceptions. Leadership involves not taking credit for others’ achievements, sharing quality management successes with subordinates, taking responsibility for quality management tasks, and continuously improving oneself and the quality management team’s effectiveness.

Knowledge of laws, regulations, and standards related to quality management is important. These should be translated into the company’s quality management systems or standards. It is necessary to stay informed about changes in relevant laws, regulations, and standards at the national, local, and industry levels. Training sessions should be organized based on these requirements. Continuous learning and self-improvement are important, and this can be achieved through various channels to acquire the latest quality management methods and skills, thereby improving one’s work capabilities