There is increasing emphasis on Quality in modern manufacturing businesses as the financial costs of recalling defective products (and their impact on reputations) can be crippling. There is also increasing regulation of standards relating to environmental and health hazards and to the safe use of materials and equipment.

Quality Assurance and Control Managers examine manufactured products and ensure they meet specifications and standards of presentation and quality. You will decide whether a product can go to market...

You would study product specifications and then sample products to determine whether they meet quality standards. You will carry out routine testing to make sure that safety and health standards are met and analyse quality assurance data and make recommendations for improvement.

It will also be your job to research, analyse and recommend ways of improving quality and to check the handling, processing and storage of raw materials.

As for many other jobs, you can add on to your existing qualifications or gain new qualifications in the business-oriented 'Competitive Manufacturing' courses.