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Quality Engineer wearing PPE

Quality Engineer

This profile displays a summary of the competence of a typical Quality Engineer. It describes the typical tier of competence for each of the 18 components of the Profession Map across the five elements of Context, Governance, Assurance, Improvement, Leadership.

Click on the component label (CA, CB etc) to view the detailed description of each component of competence.

CA2: Customers and the market place

You can lead, develop or advise on approaches used to review, scan and forecast for sector trends, changes, risks and opportunities

You can lead, develop or advise on methods for using knowledge of customers and the marketplace to sustain and improve quality

FAQ

What does each Tier mean?

Each tier represents a distinct level of competence as defined by The Profession Map , ranging from foundational to advanced capabilities. For instance, a Tier 1 indicates a developing level of knowledge and skills, while Tier 4 reflects advanced competence often seen in senior professionals subject matter specialists, and those in advisory and consulting roles. Each tier is aligned with specific responsibilities, functions and expectations within quality, helping professionals assess where they stand and where they can grow.

Refer to https://www.quality.org/the-profession-map/frequently-asked-questions for specific definitions of each tier.

How did we determine the appropriate tier of competence for each typical role profile?

Each profile was created using a combination of self-assessment data and rigorous statistical analysis. The data provided by quality professionals in specific roles helped identify the mode –the most commonly identified tier of competence – for each component of The Profession Map. This approach ensures that the tier assigned to each component within a profile accurately reflects the competence typically found in that role.

How have you ensured that the profiles are an accurate representation of the typical competence of a quality professional in each role? 

The profiles are based on self-assessment data from a representative sample of quality professionals in each role. Extensive statistical testing was conducted to verify the reliability of each component of each profile, and confidence intervals were used to account for possible variations within the sample.

Each profile was tested and verified by a Project Guidance Panel of quality professionals.

Why is my role missing from the Career Pathways Map?

The Career Pathways Map currently includes a selection of roles that represent the most common roles within the quality profession, based on CQI membership data. If your specific role title is missing, it may be due to its lower frequency among members or because it overlaps with another listed role. We plan to expand the map as more data becomes available, ensuring broader representation in the future.

Where do I direct any general enquiries about Typical Competence Profiles?

Please email [email protected].

More FAQs

Click here for our dedicated FAQ page, containing answers to our most commonly asked questions

What is a Quality Engineer?

A typical Quality Engineer plays a technical and hands-on role in ensuring product and process quality within an organisation. They are responsible for testing, analysing, and improving quality systems, often with a focus on production, manufacturing, and supply chain processes. Quality Engineers work closely with cross-functional teams to identify and resolve quality issues, develop standard operating procedures, and perform root cause analysis to drive continuous improvement.

A Quality Engineer typically operates below a Quality Manager but with more technical responsibilities than a Quality Coordinator. A Quality Engineer is often a specialist, with in-depth knowledge of processes, products, or systems. They provide the technical expertise that underpins the strategies and improvements led by a Quality Manager, and they may report directly to a Quality Manager or senior engineers. Their role is critical in translating quality policies into actionable technical solutions and ensuring that products and services meet both internal and external standards.

Job titles

Job titles associated with the role Quality Engineer include but are not limited to:

  • Supplier quality engineer
  • Project quality engineer
  • Process quality engineer
  • Customer quality engineer
  • Manufacturing quality engineer
  • Product quality engineer
  • Design quality engineer
  • New products quality engineer
  • Parts quality engineer
  • Test and quality engineer

Activities

Typical Activities undertaken by quality engineers may include but are not limited to:

  • Conducting tests and reporting results
  • Conducting root cause analysis and 8Ds
  • Maintaining the quality management system
  • Creating standard operating procedures
  • Maintain records / databases
  • Conducting internal audits
  • Reviewing supplier quality submissions
  • Providing technical advice to project /organisational functions
  • Identify continuous improvement opportunities and enhancing quality capability
  • Identifying supply issues and supporting corrective actions