From food and clothing…
to motor vehicles and structural steel…
Quality control inspectors
examine products and materials for defects…
to ensure that consumer products
meet regulations and quality standards.
Inspectors inspect, test,
and measure products…
if an item meets specifications,
the inspector certifies it…
but when a product is faulty,
inspectors may reject it, send it for repair,
or fix a minor problem themselves.
Samplers test or inspect
a sample from a production run
for malfunctions or defects.
Sorters separate goods according to length,
size, fabric type, or color.
Testers test existing products or prototypes
to determine how long a product will last
and what will break first,
and then identify possible improvements.
Weighers weigh out quantities
of production materials.
Some inspectors spend their day
lifting heavy objects,
while others sit during their shift
and read data printouts.
Some work environments may be noisy
or expose workers to hazardous materials,
while others may be clean
and air-conditioned.
Inspectors may need to wear
protective clothing.
Though some quality control inspectors
work evenings or weekends,
standard full time business hours are common.
Most quality control inspectors
need a high school diploma
and receive on-the-job training
that typically lasts from as little as 1 month
up to 1 year..
An associate’s degree in a field
such as quality control management
may help qualify workers
for more challenging positions.