Manufacturing Quality Manager

by Staff Reporter
If you’re a detailed thinker and consider yourself somewhat of a ‘perfectionist’ then becoming a Manufacturing Quality Manager might be a good fit for you.

Career Overview

A Manufacturing Quality Manager keeps track of all items within a production line. You will ensure that the quality of each product created in the manufacturing plant is of high standard quality, as per the company promise. It also has to do with complying with the legal requirements as well as keeping your customers satisfied. You essentially make sure everything, machinery, staff and systems run smoothly and create great quality products.

Required School Subjects

You will need to have taken the following subjects in order to become a Manufacturing Quality Manager:

  • Pure Mathematics

Recommended:

  • Accounting
  • Physical Science

Take a look at our Subject Guide to find the value of specific subjects as well as suitable subject packages for various career fields.

Institution and APS

In general, you will not require an APS for studies towards Manufacturing Quality Management.

Some of the most reputable institutions for studies in quality management include:

  • University of South Africa (UNISA)
  • Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
  • Lyceum
  • Durban University of Technology (DUT)

Required Qualification/s

A degree in  any kind of engineering would be highly useful in becoming a Quality Manager, however you can do a diploma specifying in the field. A BTech at a university such as CPUT would be a great option as well.

Required Skills

You will need to have the following skills in order to become a Manufacturing Quality Manager:

  • People skills
  • Management skills
  • Good communication 
  • Problem solving
  • Detail oriented
  • Analytical skills
  • An ability to facilitate growth, change and high quality production
  • Good with numbers and statistics
  • Leadership
  • Strategic thinking and implementing
  • Work well with people such as engineers, scientists, staff etc.

Where you can work

You will be able to work in the following arenas of Quality Management:

  • Manufacturing companies
  • Production companies
  • Engineering companies
  • Textiles 
  • Health care
  • Banks
  • Government departments

Working Hours

Regular working hours are between 40 – 45 hours per week with the potential to work a fair amount of overtime due to being a manager.

Expected Salary

The average salary per year as a Manufacturing Quality Manager, in South Africa, is around R436 582 with an hourly rate of about R124 per hour.

What to expect

Here are a few things that you can expect from a career as a Manufacturing Quality Manager:

  • Expect to work in different kinds of environments, depending on the manufacturing plant you are based in. 
  • As a manager, you would potentially be required to work longer hours than usual. 
  • A lot of responsibility can lie on the shoulders of a manufacturing quality manager, be prepared to manage yourself and others well. 
  • You may get the opportunity to travel for work, depending on where you work.
  • It is possible to get contract work after you’ve attained some experience. 

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