Again, I found a notification on this site saying “Skills of a Quality Engineer” I consider it a very good question that we need to show and explain here “what are the important skills that a Quality Engineer must possess?”
In order for a Quality Engineer to become competitive, he or she must possess these skills that I am going to mention here. I already mentioned from my previous post click here the communication and interpersonal skills.
Everyone should take the time to acquire skills, as I mentioned that any skill is learnable. No one has become excellent on a subject or in her or his field without learning so again don’t worry about each skill that we’ll discuss here is learnable. The only discipline you must have is “focus and concentration” they said, “the only requirements for success are focus and concentration.”
Here are the 4 skills of a Quality Engineer you must learn and possess to become competitive.
1. Communication Skill
You need to have good English communication skills because 80 percent of the job of Engineer is interacting and communicating with other people. They are communicating every day with staff, Consultant, Subcontractor, etc. either way whether it is in verbal or email messages or by correspondence.
You cannot express your point across to others if you don’t know English communication skills if you feel you lack vocabulary so why not try to seek a school that teaches Technical English just to enhance your English communication or your vocabulary.
2. Computer Skill
You need to know this skill. You need to know Microsoft programs such as MS Word, MS Excel, Microsoft Powerpoint and Microsoft Outlook.
Microsoft word has vital uses for a quality engineer, writing an NCR, Site Instruction, MS, ITP, Checklist, etc.
Microsoft Excel for your Cube Register, QC log, etc.
3. Can Read Drawings (able to read drawing is one of the important skills of a quality engineer
This skill is one of the most important because you’ll be going to check work on site like installation of reinforcement for footing, slab, column, etc. Everything should be checked as per drawing. If there are mistakes during site activities that are not as per drawing like the diameter of bars, spacing, ties you can then ask the Site Engineer to change and follow the drawing so that rectification shall be made before succeeding work takes place. It’s like preventing the non-conformance to happen. I do believe in the saying “Prevention is better than Rectification.”
Here are tips on how to immediately obtain this skill. If something that you don’t understand on the drawing, ask from someone who has experienced about the work on site (Site Engineer or Foreman), don’t be shy its part of being a beginner. Study and search for the technical word written on the drawing. There are many resources to search for like the internet, books, etc.
4. Time Management Skill
This skill is the best skill of all. This skill will make your life better if you’ll do this religiously. Again time management skill is learnable and if you’ll make it a daily habit eventually becomes normal to you and doing this over time will have a tremendous effect on your life. This is one of the skills of a quality engineer that I recommend doing.
Time management is life management, you can do everything in your life if you manage your time properly.
Here is an example of time management that quality engineer must follow.
Plan your work for a day. Again bring a spiral notebook with you every day and you’ll use that to list down the things you’ll do on that day. Each morning before start work think what you want or need to do, write them down. Like for example Site inspection, write method statement, talk to your boss, lunch, check drawing, answering the phone, opening the email, calling someone, eating snacks, etc. In short “Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan.”
Apply 80/20 rule for that list, the 80/20 rule was developed by an Italian Engineer Vilfredo Pareto. He said to make “20 percent of the work will account 80 percent of value.” And like in sales “80 percent of the profit will come from 20 percent of the product.” So what is that mean?
From your list of activities to do, you’ll start on the 20 percent which will give good progress or value don’t start on those things which are not important. Doing this discipline over time will make you successful in your job.
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The best words that I always ask myself to make me disciplined and following my time management rule. I ask this to myself “What is the most valuable use of my time right now?” Ask that over and over again until that discipline will become normal on you.
Hoping that the above has helped the beginners on “what are the skills of a quality engineer need to possess” and start acquiring skills so that you’ll become a competitive and successful quality engineer.
Good Luck Engineers! Cheers!