Quality Assurance Officer

What does a quality assurance officer do?

Quality assurance officers monitor the work of the manufacturing technicians and quality technicians in a manufacturing plant, oversee the record keeping of the team, and prepare appropriate reports for management. They check equipment to make sure it is calibrated and operating correctly, inspect storage areas to make sure conditions will maintain the quality of the materials and products, and also sign off on every step of the manufacturing process.

Why does a quality assurance officer do this?

The manufacture of biopharmaceutical products is a highly specialised industry. Many of these products are used in critical aspects of human and animal health services so it is critical to ensure the absolute quality while adhering to all relevant government legislation.

How does a quality assurance officer do their job?

Quality assurance officers use computers, laboratory equipment and specialised instruments in their work. Some typical tasks include:

• Studying product and/or service specifications;
• Sampling products or services to determine whether they meet specifications and quality standards, and initiating corrective action if necessary;
• Analysing quality assurance data and making recommendations for improvement to management;
• Training and assisting operators to carry out their quality control function;
• Checking details of assemblies to ensure specialist equipment is correctly calibrated and functioning property;
• Compiling reports for relevant management groups.

Where do a quality assurance officers do their work?

Quality assurance officers work in laboratories, manufacturing plants and offices. They can sometimes work with hazardous chemicals and biological matter, which will require them to wear protective clothing. Those based in manufacturing or processing plants may also work around machinery, which can be noisy and potentially dangerous. Most quality assurance officers will work regular business hours, however, evening and weekend work may occasionally be required to complete experiments or compile reports.

Tertiary study

You could begin you undergraduate studies with a Bachelor of Science with a major in Chemistry.

With a Bachelor of Science you might consider studies in:

After completing your Bachelor of Science you could go on to complete studies such as:

Companies that employ quality assurance officers:  

There are a few government divisions that hire Biotechnologists, including:

• CSIRO
• Public hospitals
• Zoos
• Medical research institutes and universities.

Some major Australian employers include: