Quality control (QC) associates play a critical role in the pharmaceutical and medical fields. Also known as QC technicians, QC analysts, and QC specialists, these professionals focus on ensuring a final product’s quality. That way, when a product is released, it’s known to be safe and ready for distribution.  

If you’d like to learn more about the QC associate position, including the role’s primary duties, educational and training requirements, and key skills employers want to find when hiring for the job, here’s what you need to know.  

Quality Control Associate Basic Duties  

In quality control, professionals spend most of their time testing and examining product samples. The samples are pulled during the manufacturing process, allowing them to be analyzed before the product (or the batch) hits the market. If that particular iteration is deemed acceptable quality, it’s released for distribution or sale.  

QC associates complete a variety of tasks that relate to the goal above. They will examine a product’s attributes and record their findings, compare actual measurements to the pre-defined specifications, monitor production against best practices, identify and catalog defects, and report their results.  

Additionally, QC teams work together to create new protocols and to develop processes for addressing deviations. In many cases, they’ll also verify their colleague’s results, especially when a defect is identified, to ensure accuracy.  

Educational and Training Requirements  

In the pharmaceutical and medical fields, QC associates have appropriate scientific and laboratory training. While some entry-level QC jobs only require a high school diploma and some experience in the larger industry, that isn’t the most common way to get into the field.  

Usually, if you want to be a QC associate, a degree in a related field, like biology, chemistry, anatomy, or something similar, is necessary. This is especially true for candidates without direct experience in the industry.  

When it comes to the precise skills for the job, many companies will train entry-level employees in their processes and procedures. That way, the new hire will use their preferred approaches, increasing the odds that they’ll meet or exceed expectations.  

Key Skills for Landing a QC Associate Position  

Having the right skill set is critical if you want to work as a QC associate. Along with scientific and lab skills, you also need a selection of soft skills. Teamwork is incredibly important when you work in QC, as you’re almost guaranteed to be part of a larger department that works together to achieve shared goals. Attention-to-detail is critical, as poor accuracy will harm your results.  

Written and verbal communications are vital for a few reasons. First, they ensure that you can discuss complex topics with colleagues, including some who may not have as much scientific expertise. Second, written communication skills are essential for creating documentation and reporting your findings, a core part of the job.  

The ability to prioritize and organize your workload is also necessary if you want to excel. You may be working on several projects and could be subject to tight deadlines. You need to manage your to-do list, enabling you to complete everything on time.  

Apply For Your Next QC Analyst Job Today 

Ultimately, becoming a QC analyst can put you on the road to an amazing career. Contact Alpha Consulting today and see how our career development expertise can benefit you.