[dropcap]Q[/dropcap]uality is one of the principles on which the profitability of every company hinges itself. One of the most significant benefits of quality management is that it ensures that your products are in tiptop condition; this gives you a competitive edge and improves your corporate image. It is, therefore, critical that you get quality management and online six sigma green belt courses to provide you with the skills to monitor and continually improve the quality of your products.
What is Quality Management?
Quality is the ability of a product or service to accomplish its intended purpose or its fitness for the aim it was made for. Quality management is, therefore, the discipline that ensures that all outputs and processes by which the outputs are delivered meet all stakeholders’ specifications, and are fit for their purpose. Quality management has four major elements: quality planning, quality control, quality assurance, and quality improvement.
Quality planning involves crafting an all-encompassing quality management plan that describes the optimal processes and metrics that will be used to determine quality. This plan should be made with the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure that it meets their specifications.
Quality assurance is the function that guarantees that the set plan is being followed to the latter and that product defects do not occur. It also ensures that the company’s staff is fully aware of the set standards and that they have the skills and attitude to implement them.
Quality control is the function that involves inspection, testing, and measuring the products and processes to ensure that they conform to the set specifications and are therefore fit for sale. It inspects finished products to isolate defects.
Quality improvement or continuous improvement is the last component, and it relies on information from quality assurance and control to facilitate growth.
7 Reasons to get quality management certifications
To be a competent leader in quality management, you need to take quality management certifications. These will impart the necessary knowledge and leadership skills you will need to become a valuable authority in your field.
Below is a closer look at seven reasons why you need to sign up for quality management training:
1. It enables you to get a better understanding of business processes
Quality management training will open your mind to a new way of perceiving your organization’s products and way of doing things. This will help you devise new, innovative ways to improve them and thus improve your customers’ satisfaction and the company’s profitability.
2. It improves your team’s morale
Many managers may not know that their level of expertise also boosts the morale of the team that they supervise. As an authority in your field, it will be easier for you to inspire confidence and psyche, since employees will attach more meaning to the word of a professional. Younger staff members will also be eager to learn from you. Having a motivated team is vital in reaching your quality objectives.
3. It gives you an edge over other candidates
Certification in quality management like the lean six sigma black belt will make you a valuable asset to any organization and improve your chances of getting your dream job as a quality manager.
4. It ensures compliance of your products
Compliance with national and international standards like ISO is a priority for many organizations, especially those in the food and healthcare industries. Taking quality management certifications will help you guide your organization towards conforming to this body of standards’ stringent conditions.
5. Great remuneration
Taking extra certifications will not only boost your employability and knowledge but also your ability to leverage your organization for better pay. You can get up to $90,000 as a CMQ/OE or a certified quality engineer.
6. It improves your decision making
One of the most prominent functions of any manager is to make decisions that often have serious repercussions. The knowledge imparted by quality management training will give you sufficient information to help you make difficult decision-making. This way, your staff will trust your judgment, and your department will run smoothly.
7. Helps to avoid the risk of legal issues
Customers who get seriously aggrieved by the defects of a product, especially in the healthcare and hospitality industries may go to court for compensation. As a quality manager, the burden of avoiding lawsuits and resulting damages falls squarely on you. Quality management certifications will teach you how to prevent these, plus how to deal with such an eventuality.
Different Quality Management Certifications
Lean six sigma
Six Sigma is a set of disciplines that uses statistical measurements to optimize manufacturing and reduce wastes in production and other business operations. You can start with a six sigma yellow belt certification then work your way up to a master black belt certification.
Certified quality process analyst (CQPA)
This entry-level program targets recent graduates looking to enhance their skill set further. With this certification, you will work closely with the quality department manager to ensure quality and solve any problems identified.
Certified Manager of Quality and Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE)
This program will enable you to effectively train, monitor and evaluate the staff in the quality department for continuous improvement, assess business risks, and develop measurement systems and knowledge management machinery. This certification is excellent for managers intending to focus their expertise in quality management and requires at least ten years of experience.
Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)
This program will help you audit the systems that the CMQ/OE creates to ensure their effectiveness and relevance. You will also be able to evaluate the quality system to ensure that t conforms to the standards set by the industry and regulatory bodies and report any irregularities.
Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA)
Professionals outside the quality area can obtain this certification; you can take part in quality projects using the basic knowledge imparted in this course. It is an excellent option for professionals that are not looking to have a career in quality but get an edge by having quality-oriented skills.
Salary prospects for certified quality managers
The median salary for certified quality professionals according to Payscale is $86,000, which makes it one of the jobs with the highest career satisfaction ratings.
Conclusion
The role of a qualified quality manager in any firm cannot be underestimated. Take a quality management certifications to broaden your skill set and work more effectively to ensure that quality standards in your organization are met.
