Quality assurance (QA)/quality control (QC) engineers are accountable to ensure the quality of the products and services offered by their business. They supervise the production of products and are involved in each stage of the process from development and manufacturing through packaging.
Engineers in QA/QC must ensure that their product is compliant with the standards of industry set by federal and state law and the requirements of the business for which they are working. A further responsibility is to ensure that the equipment and processes or the materials used in making their products are also secure for employees. If there is any type of quality problem they have to take the necessary steps to correct the issue even if it requires stopping production. They attempt to resolve any issues that might occur during development however, they should be prepared to deal with any problems that arise in production. The QA/QC engineers monitor production, and usually work under the supervision of the operating manager or a production manager.
The requirements for this job differ from one company to the next. Certain companies require an undergraduate or even a master's degree that focuses on the kinds of products they manufacture. For instance, an aeronautical engineering degree to those who work in the manufacturing of military aircraft in the company of Lockheed Martin. Some companies don't require a degree from a college and prefer an high school diploma and some years of experience working in the manufacturing sector.