Quality Control
and Quality Assurance (QC/QA)
are both associated with a successful business regardless of its nature. They assure that
the quality of products and services is at its best to increase customer satisfaction while minimising wastage and maximising
production. We explore their significance within the pharmaceutical industry.
When seeking
candidates for these roles, employers typically prioritise individuals with
strong combination of technical skills, analytical skills, and interpersonal
qualities. Many of these qualities are transferable skills from other positions
within the pharmaceutical environment.
What is Quality Control and Quality Assurance?
Quality Control is a general term that refers to a range of
actions and activities directed towards the improvement of the standard of the
product. It aims at fixing the problem at the rudimentary stage to save a
business from incurring unnecessary expenditures and losing its potential
customers by delivering substandard goods. Quality Control is primarily
concerned with ensuring that products or services meet specified standards and
requirements. It involves inspection, testing, and verification of products or processes to identify and correct defects. Typically occurs after the product or
service is produced or delivered.
Quality
Assurance is broadly
concerned with preventing defects and ensuring that quality is built into the
entire process. Includes planning, implementing, and maintainingquality systems, policies, and procedures. Occurs throughout the
entire product or service lifecycle, from design and development to production
and delivery.
We explore this in more detail, and with GMP, but to summarise very plainly, QC is reactive, and QA is
proactive.
Key Skills for QC/QA Professionals
Professional’s
skills are so many but at the same time, to succeed in the occupations,
practitioners will require several personal networks which are technical
skills, analysis skills as well as soft skills. Some of these include the
following:
Technical Skills
· Knowledge of Quality Standards: The ability
to audit domestic and international quality regulatory and quality management
requirements such as ISO 9001, Six Sigma, or Lean Manufacturing.
· Statistical Analysis: The use of within
person comparison analysis and other relevant measurements in assessing the
quality of a product.
· Testing and Inspection Techniques: Respect
to the various types of tests destructive and non-destructive and the processes
of inspection.
· Technical Writing: The practice of
documentation with quality plans, test documents, and procedures in a lucid and
precise manner.
· Automation Tools: Related to the testing
processes and analysis of data using different testing and analysis automation
tools.
Analytical Assistant
· Problem-Solving: Finding and fixing quality problems,
their causes, and how to regulate them in the future.
· Attention to Detail: Careful noticing in
order not to deviate from the specifications and standards.
· Critical Analysis: Ability to think through
and reason about a given situation even where elements appear complex.
·
Data
Analysis: Sizable amounts of numerical information needed to conduct decision
making processes.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
- Effective Communication: Excellent verbal and written
communication skills to convey findings, recommendations, and quality
reports clearly.
- Teamwork: Ability to collaborate effectively with
cross-functional teams to drive quality improvements.
- Problem-Solving: The capacity to work
collaboratively to identify and resolve quality issues.
- Relationship Building: The ability to build strong
relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
Find your next Quality Role
At QCS Staffing, we have many Quality roles. Browse our pharmaceutical roles
or submit your cv to
kickstart your dream career.
We’re determined to help place our candidates in the best
roles. We take the time to understand the needs of clients and candidates, so
they always receive the best possible service.
