Who Is a Quality Assurance Auditor? Why Do Companies Need One?

As a company, you want to maintain the highest efficiency of your system and product quality. It’s only natural to have an efficient and client-satisfying process. However, you must apply mandatory preventive methods to avoid this.

This is where quality assurance auditors jump in. In today’s article, we will talk about QAAs and their role in any organization. If your company is looking for a Quality Assurance Auditor, here is everything you need to know.

What is a Quality Assurance Auditor?

A quality assurance (QA) auditor keeps track of the production process of a business. They test different products and ensure that everything goes in and out of production in optimal form.

Do you see a company providing high-quality materials with consistently uniform quality? Well, appreciate their QA auditor. These people oversee many things you may experience in the company.

Additionally, a QA auditor must consider any mishaps and fix them instantly. They are answerable to senior management through regular and annual reports. The job requires regular attendance and frequent presence over other team members.

You need to have a degree in accounts with audit majors to get a job in the industry as a Quality Assurance Auditor.

How to become a quality assurance auditor?

If you want to become a quality assurance auditor, then you must pursue certification for auditing quality. The certification name is Certified Quality Auditor, and you can get more information about the education required and the exam at the American Society for Quality (ASQ) website. At the minimum, you will need eight years of experience, of which three years must be in a decision-making position.

What skills should a quality auditor have?

To be a successful quality auditor, you must have the necessary skill and accompanying knowledge. If you can gain experience working in a quality assurance or quality control role, you will gain more profound skills for such audits. And since your work will primarily involve auditing, it will be very desirable if you understand the principles of auditing and develop expertise in tools and techniques to perform effective audits.

What Are the Main Responsibilities of a Quality Assurance Auditor?

Although the roles are based according to the company policy and size, there are some generic responsibilities that we’d like to elaborate on:

Management Post Audit Concerns 

First of all, the job of a QA auditor is to investigate the post-audit activities and check out the mistakes in their department. You can discuss the issues with other management seniors to devise a solution and enhance efficiency.

Manage Customer Claims

No business can achieve 100% customer satisfaction. There is always someone with a problem, and we are not just talking about the Karens. A QA auditor will manage customer claims and check up with the team to confirm whether a solution has been provided or not. They also reduce the resolution time of these claims to maintain maximum customer satisfaction.

Train Relevant Staff

This might seem uncanny, but a QA auditor should stay in touch with the latest market trends and changes in technology. They can train the staff and request their implementation. Encouraging and establishing newer changes means coping with the market and meeting customer expectations.

Deal With Vendors

The raw material and services you seek from vendors must be regularly addressed. You do not want your company to be in a situation where the basics of production are subpar. So, a QA auditor will deal with the vendors and ensure they meet your criteria and quality expectations. The auditor will also test these products every now and then for confirmation.

Share Information with Seniors

The way your department is performing must be conveyed to the seniors. With a quality assurance auditor in the house, getting these reports to the management to make decisive company decisions for long-term success and ease of audit. This also includes procedures, records, and information associated with the accounting standards that you plan to follow.

What Are the Different Types of Quality Assurance Audits?

Here is a list of the three different quality audit types that QA auditors perform:

Process Audit

A process audit confirms whether the company is operating on the predetermined procedures. You need to stay within limits. In process audits, we measure the effectiveness and efficiency of the operations. Everything is included in the process audit performed by your QA auditor, from training instructions to process efficiency and managing the workforce.

Product Audit

Another type is the product audit. Here the auditor inspects whether the services are being created at the highest capacity. You must ensure that the products are made according to the demand and supplied on time. Also, keep an eye on wastage. So do not forget to submit reports to relevant authorities to ease the process.

System Audit

A system audit verifies that all aspects of a management system are competent and acceptable. It also ensures these controls were created, implemented, and documented following the specifications. A quality management system audit assesses an organization’s current quality management system to ensure that it complies with contract obligations, business policies, and regulatory requirements.

What Is the Process Followed By a Quality Assurance Auditor?

A QA auditor will perform the following steps:

Audit Initiation

The first step is to start the process by determining the nature of your business and finding out the company’s concerned people and how they operate. You must determine what the company requires from you as a quality assurance auditor. Speak to the concerned people and make decisions that fall within your job line. Usually, auditors are provided with their job descriptions before starting work.

Audit Planning

This is the job of a QA auditor now. They will comprehend and plan the activities to complete everything on time. Planning an audit involves discussion among internal stakeholders to ensure substantial results. Plus, we discuss procedures that might affect the final audit.

Audit Execution

The QA auditor will start executing the plans to control and monitor their department. Execution involves the auditor being present to evaluate system controls, interview employees, and personally record data/controls.

Audit Reporting

Audit reporting includes the observations you made as a QA auditor, the implemented plans, and the process inspection. The reports give an accurate and fair view of the product department. You can also suggest methods to make the system more efficient.

Key Thoughts

A quality assurance auditor is a person who inspects and enhances the efficiency of your production department. They enhance the quality and implement methods that benefit the final audit.

As a QA auditor, it is mandatory to devise a plan and understand your job role before suggesting changes. Also, make sure to present the reports that show the true image of the company’s production.

They also keep a vigilant check on employee performance. Plus, checking the supply of materials and services (vendors) also falls under the QA auditors’ job description. 

Make sure to include the relevant stakeholders before making any changes. A QA auditor should stay in touch and implement modern trends that match customer demand.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.