A quality engineer must have a varied range of skills as they may fulfill many roles, from overseeing everyday factory floor activities in order to train operators, to acting as a liaison between suppliers and customers. The engineer will define the methods and equipment used to measure a process’s key quality characteristics
The engineer will also attempt to improve the standard of the process, using information collected from the operations and then applying problem-solving techniques. The role is also responsible for training the production workers in updated work procedures and productions
Any customer complaints regarding the final product’s quality is filtered through to the person occupying this role. He or she then allocates resources based on whatever the source of the problem is. This may include working with sales and purchasing, and product engineering, as well as liaising with the suppliers of the parts
The position has a salary range which is generally between £25,000 and £35,000 in the UK. This will vary depending on location and previous experience in the role.

A Quality Engineer may handle many manufacturing and technical roles. They must be able to comply with different regulation standards, hence they have to study and be conversant on the ISO 9001, AS9100, or other QA standards. These engineers need to incorporate their networking skills to coordinate with other QA professionals, engineers, and suppliers. They work in various manufacturing, food processing, agricultural or computer science industries.

A Quality Engineer usually performs many of the following tasks:

•  Handling customer QA issues
•  Reviewing operating procedures
•  Doing training and development exercises
•  Informing employees about yield performance
• Supplying targets for yield improvements
•  Coordinating department activities
•  Reporting on Quality Measurement Indices
•  Supporting SQE
•  Attending meetings
•  Making recommendations

• Collaborating on teams
• Oral and written communication
• Managing projects
• Interpreting technical drawings
• Being customer focused
• Organisation and problem solving
• Managing stressful situations
• Information technology
• Presentation and listening
• Being analytical and creative
• Managing numeric information
• Being thorough and professional
• Meeting deadlines and multitasking

Quality Engineers often pursue their education to the Masters Degree level. Many professionals, including Engineers may begin their careers as apprentices, using ONC, City and Guilds, HNC, GCSEs and NVQs to matriculate. They then gain work experience, increase their knowledge and skills, and continue their education. Studying courses in the engineering, technical of IT field can help you become a Quality Engineer. These courses include:

•    Computer Science
•    Technical Drawing
•    Mechanical Engineering
•    Electrical Engineering
•    Science
•    Physics
•    Mathematics
•    Statistics