If you have an eye for detail, enjoy problem solving and have decent management skills, a career as a Quality Systems Manager could be for you.
Career Overview
Quality Systems Managers are responsible for carrying out quality control programs to make sure the finished product meets a specific level of quality. These managers use programs to help identify defects in products, identify the cause of the defect, and solve the problem creating it. For example, a manager may learn that parts from an external supplier are the cause of a product’s defect. They will then reach out to solve the problem with the supplier, or find a new supplier to ensure the quality of the product.
Required School Subjects
You will need to have taken the following subjects at high school:
- Pure Mathematics
- Physical ScienceÂ
Recommended subjects:
- Engineering
- Graphic Design
- Mechanical Technology
Institution and APS
The following institutions are highly recommended for tertiary studies:
- University of Johannesbury (UJ) – APS of 30
- University of Pretoria (UP) – APS of 35
- North West University (NWU) – APS of 31
- University of Witwatersrand (Wits) – APS of 40+
Required Qualification/s
These professionals may work in leadership roles and usually need at least a bachelor’s degree and job experience to secure a position. You will be able to obtain a formal qualification from one of the above mentioned institutions. Here are some of the qualifications on offer:
University of Johannesburg (UJ)
- BEngTech (Industrial Engineering Technology)
- Diploma in Quality and Operations Management
University of Pretoria (UP)
- BEng Industrial Engineering
- BEng Industrial Engineering Engage
North West University (NWU)
- Bachelor of Engineering in Industrial Engineering (BIng)
University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
- BSc (Eng) – Industrial Engineering
Some employers will call for:
- Master’s degrees.
- Professional certifications in various aspects of industrial production management
Top 10 MBA programmes in South Africa:
- University of Cape Town (UCT) – Graduate School of Business
- University of South Africa (UNISA)
- University of Pretoria – Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
- Regent Business School
- University of the Witwatersrand – Wits Business School (WBS)
- Henley Business School – South Africa
- Milpark Education: Milpark Business School
- University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB)
- Tshwane University of Technology
- University of KwaZulu-Natal
Required Skills
There are also a number of additional skills that you need to have in order to succeed in this type of work:
- Interpersonal skills so they can work with managers from other departments, as well as with the company’s senior-level management.
- Leadership skills to keep the production process running smoothly, and motivate and direct the employees they manage.
- Problem-solving skills to identify problems immediately and solve them. For example, if a product has a defect, the manager determines whether it is a onetime problem or the result of the production process.
- Time-management skills to meet production deadlines, managers must carefully manage their employees’ time as well as their own.
Where you can work
Most Quality System Managers work in the manufacturing industry but they can work in other roles across both the private and public sectors.
Working Hours
A typical work week for a Quality Systems Manager is 40 hours, but there may be overtime required if there is a problem that they need to address.
Expected Salary
The salary of a Quality Systems Manager varies depending on the level of education and experience they have:
- 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of R293 614 per annum
- 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of R456 196 per annum
- Over 10 years of experience earns an average total compensation of R552 409 + per annum
What to expect
You will learn to work closely with managers from other departments because you will interact with them often in your day-to-day work environment. For example, the procurement department’s orders will affect the production department’s supplies. So they need to be in constant communication to avoid production slowdowns. You may need to communicate with other managers from departments such as sales, warehousing, and research and design.
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