The quality assurance field has several different employment types. Those working as inspectors, samplers, testers, and sorters are all involved in this field. This field has also seen vast technological improvements as companies have invested in automated quality assurance inspection equipment to ensure that quality assurance is consistent and cost effective. However, this has also caused a reduction in jobs in this field. The highest level of employee in the quality field is a quality assurance manager. Quality assurance managers generally need a bachelor's degree in engineering or quality control. Those with a business administration degree and an emphasis in quality control will be prepared to meet the challenges of the changing quality control work place.
Job Outlook for Business Administration and Quality Control
The field of quality control has been greatly impacted by the recent economic recession and technology. As already mentioned, this field has seen a reduction of jobs due to automatic equipment taking over many jobs that used to be done by lower level quality assurance employees like testers, sorters, samplers, and inspectors. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the quality control field will see a decline in growth of about four percent between now and 2018. This loss of jobs is also due to outsourcing of production from the United States to countries like China where labor is so much cheaper. Companies are also trying to cut down on quality control costs by meshing quality control departments with existing production departments. The best growth in this field will be those who have degrees and can go into management positions. Also, production areas like pharmaceuticals and medical instruments are production industries expecting to see growth in the United States and will offer a higher proportion of quality control jobs.
Salary Expectations for Business Administration & Quality Control
According to Salary.com those employed in the quality assurance management field in 2008 had average salaries from $65,000 to $117,000 annually. Those employed as testers, inspectors, sorters, samplers, and weighers had average hourly wages of around $15.00 in 2008, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Those employed in the aerospace products and parts industry had the highest quality control salaries averaging around $22.00 per hour.
Great College Programs in Quality Control and Quality Assurance Management
Those looking for jobs in this field will be best prepared for the turbulent employment times we live in with a college degree. Colleges are currently offering associate's degrees (2 years), bachelor's degrees (4 years), and master's degree (2 years beyond bachelor's degree) in the business administration and quality control field.
If you are interested in earning a degree in Quality Control, click here to request more information.
The field of quality assurance is critical to the successful operation of producing businesses everywhere. Those going into the business administration and quality control field work to be sure that the quality of products being manufactured is up to the highest level possible. Quality control employees also work to ensure that safety is at its highest in production arenas.
