Quality Control Analysts

Also called: Chemistry Quality Control Analyst (Chemistry QC Analyst), Chemistry Quality Control Technician (Chemistry QC Technician), Lab Analyst, Lab Technician (Lab Tech), Laboratory Analyst

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Quality control analysts conduct tests to determine quality of raw materials, bulk intermediate, and finished products. May conduct stability sample tests.

Conduct routine and non-routine analyses of in-process materials, raw materials, environmental samples, finished goods, or stability samples.
Interpret test results, compare them to established specifications and control limits, and make recommendations on appropriateness of data for release.
Calibrate, validate, or maintain laboratory equipment.
Ensure that lab cleanliness and safety standards are maintained.
Perform visual inspections of finished products.
Complete documentation needed to support testing procedures, including data capture forms, equipment logbooks, or inventory forms.
Compile laboratory test data and perform appropriate analyses.
Identify and troubleshoot equipment problems.
Write technical reports or documentation, such as deviation reports, testing protocols, and trend analyses.
Investigate or report questionable test results.
Monitor testing procedures to ensure that all tests are performed according to established item specifications, standard test methods, or protocols.
Identify quality problems and recommend solutions.
Participate in out-of-specification and failure investigations and recommend corrective actions.
Receive and inspect raw materials.
Train other analysts to perform laboratory procedures and assays.
Supply quality control data necessary for regulatory submissions.
Serve as a technical liaison between quality control and other departments, vendors, or contractors.
Write or revise standard quality control operating procedures.
Participate in internal assessments and audits as required.
Perform validations or transfers of analytical methods in accordance with applicable policies or guidelines.
Evaluate analytical methods and procedures to determine how they might be improved.
Prepare or review required method transfer documentation including technical transfer protocols or reports.
Review data from contract laboratories to ensure accuracy and regulatory compliance.
Develop and qualify new testing methods.
Coordinate testing with contract laboratories and vendors.
Evaluate new technologies and methods to make recommendations regarding their use.

Work Context

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets — 93% responded "Every day".
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 86% responded "Extremely important".
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 77% responded "Every day".
Electronic Mail — 75% responded "Every day".
Face-to-Face Discussions — 73% responded "Every day".
Exposed to Contaminants — 65% responded "Every day".
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls — 64% responded "Continually or almost continually".

Structured versus Unstructured Work — 51% responded "A lot of freedom".

Exposed to Hazardous Conditions — 60% responded "Every day".

Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 46% responded "Extremely important".

Freedom to Make Decisions — 37% responded "A lot of freedom".

Contact With Others — 62% responded "Constant contact with others".

Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable — 59% responded "Every day".

Time Pressure — 33% responded "Every day".

Work With Work Group or Team — 51% responded "Important".

Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 38% responded "Very important results".

Consequence of Error — 42% responded "Extremely serious".

Spend Time Standing — 47% responded "About half the time".

Frequency of Decision Making — 39% responded "Once a year or more but not every month".

Physical Proximity — 52% responded "Slightly close (e.g., shared office)".

Responsible for Others' Health and Safety — 38% responded "Very high responsibility".

Telephone — 30% responded "Once a month or more but not every week".

Responsibility for Outcomes and Results — 29% responded "Limited responsibility".

Very Hot or Cold Temperatures — 32% responded "Once a week or more but not every day".

Spend Time Walking and Running — 33% responded "About half the time".

Coordinate or Lead Others — 45% responded "Important".

Work Activities

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Detailed Work Activities

Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures.
Evaluate quality of materials or products.
Develop collaborative relationships between departments or with external organizations.
Conduct financial or regulatory audits.
Maintain laboratory or technical equipment.
Advise others on the development or use of new technologies.

Inspect areas for compliance with sanitation standards.

Develop testing routines or procedures.

Coordinate activities with suppliers, contractors, clients, or other departments.

Prepare operational reports.

Establish standards for products, processes, or procedures.

Prepare information or documentation related to legal or regulatory matters.

Evaluate quality of materials or products.

Verify accuracy of data.

Prepare information or documentation related to legal or regulatory matters.

Determine appropriate methods for data analysis.

Conduct quantitative failure analyses of operational data.

Monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards.

Analyze test results.

Interpret research or operational data.

Advise others on business or operational matters.

Evaluate new technologies or methods.

Record research or operational data.

Calibrate scientific or technical equipment.

Maintain laboratory or technical equipment.

Apply mathematical principles or statistical approaches to solve problems in scientific or applied fields.

Test quality of materials or finished products.

Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Production and Processing

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Chemistry

Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Written Comprehension

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Written Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Inductive Reasoning

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Far Vision

The ability to see details at a distance.

Speech Recognition

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Selective Attention

The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Perceptual Speed

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Flexibility of Closure

The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Mathematical Reasoning

The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Information Ordering

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Speech Clarity

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Arm-Hand Steadiness

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Finger Dexterity

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Category Flexibility

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

They do well at jobs that need:

Achievement/Effort

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self Control

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software

The MathWorks MATLAB
Minitab
Test automation software
LabWare LIMS
Laboratory information management system LIMS

Graphics or photo imaging software

Microsoft Visio
SmugMug Flickr

Data base user interface and query software

Microsoft SQL Server
Structured query language SQL
Microsoft Access
Data entry software
dBASE
FileMaker Pro

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Quality Control Analysts

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