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Quality control technician

Check that products meet quality standards and are safe for customers to buy.

About the job

What it's like

You'd help set up and manage quality control systems, making sure products meet quality standards and are safe for customers to buy.

Your tasks might include:

  • dealing with feedback and complaints from customers

  • referring issues to managers when needed

  • assessing suppliers

  • checking and updating quality control policies

  • training new staff

  • writing reports for quality managers.

  • working in a team under the supervision of a quality manager

You would also have specialised tasks depending on where you work.

For example, if you worked in food and drink production, you would:

  • find and remove faults in the production process

  • test microbiological, chemical and physical samples

  • check labels

  • check that methods are in line with legislation

If you work in manufacturing engineering, you would:

  • monitor each stage of production

  • use statistical analysis to make sure that machined parts are within tolerance limits

  • run tests for defects, for example electric vehicle battery leak detection

You would need technical knowledge of your industry. You would also need good knowledge of quality control standards and legislation.

Green job  

In this job you could be doing work to help the environment. You could:   

  • make sure products using energy are doing so efficiently 

  • make production process more sustainable by reducing waste  

Find out more about green jobs. 

Hours

You would normally work 35 to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. In manufacturing, you might work on a shift rota that includes evenings and weekends.

Environment

Depending on your industry, you could be based in an office, laboratory or factory production area.

Explore more information about this job

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Related industries

Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.

  • Food and drink
  • Chemical sciences
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Top skills

Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!

It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.

Top specialised skills

These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From February 2024 to February 2025.

  • iso 13485 standard
  • finished good
  • cell cultures
  • good laboratory practice (glp)
  • environmental monitoring
  • semiconductors
  • product testing
  • quality assessment
  • laboratory equipment
  • digital data
Source: Based on vacancy data from Lightcast

Meta skills

Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.

  • understanding
  • attention to detail
  • observation
  • problem solving
  • written communication
  • working with technology
  • verbal communication
  • cooperating

Your skills are important

Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.

Discover skills

Getting in

Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.

Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:

  • Administration and Information Technology

  • Design and Manufacture

  • Practical Craft Skills

  • Science

  • Foundation Apprenticeship: Engineering

  • Foundation Apprenticeship: Food and Drink Technologies

You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.

You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.

Discover what's on offer at your school on  Apprenticeships.scot.

You would need qualifications at SCQF level 4/5.

A Higher National Diploma (HND, SCQF level 8) or degree (SCQF level 9/10) is required for some roles.

Alternatively you can start in an entry role and take relevant work-based qualifications such as a Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) Certificate in Quality Management (QCF level 3).

Some knowledge of quality standards and working methods will be useful when applying for jobs in quality control. You can find details of these on the British Standards Institution (BSI) website.

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