Osagie iboi (MSc Tech)’s Post

Becoming a QA Manager, Part 2  STRATEGY As a QA manager, aligning with the organization's goals is very key. You may be the head of the department in most cases, and as such, you need to pilot the direction the department is heading in alignment with the total organizational goals. How do you develop, plan, and execute your QA strategies? It starts by first understanding what the goal of the organization is. If the organizational goal for QA is to achieve consumer complaints of 0.02 ppm, 100% compliance in all ISO audits, regulatory audits, internal audits, and 98% compliance in FTR, to mention but a few, It is your responsibility to strategize and map out how you will achieve those goals, which is your strategy for success. While it is good to get ideas from some members of your team on ways to achieve the objectives, you must critically think about how to figure out the ways to achieve the goals set. For instance, your consumer complaints compliance of 0.02 ppm is objective, while the strategy will be how to achieve it- Create a consumer complaint response team to include stakeholders in manufacturing- production, engineering, etc. Do not forget to describe what their roles will be and what training is necessary for the team members to know what actions to put in place. Initiate quality in trade visits to sensitize customers on product handling, e.g. Do not display products under the sun. Invite critical customers for bi-annual training and feedback sessions- what you intend to achieve here is to get customer feedback, as they have a lot of information about complaints from consumers. It is also important to train them in best practices for product handling and storage. Another strategy to achieve the objective is to initiate a lesson-learned platform for more sensitization of the shopfloor team to prevent re-occurrences. Remember also to document how you intend to achieve this. Thinking strategically is a skill set you must acquire, and it comes from experience, learning from others, or benchmarking from around the world. A QA manager must seek ways to achieve his numerous KPIs and ask questions such as 1. What is the company’s overall goal as it affects my department? 2. What strategies will I employ to achieve the goals? 3. How do I deploy my strategies? 4. How do I measure if I am making progress? 5. How do I get the strategies accepted by my colleagues in other functions and then plant-wide?   The communication of the strategies is as important as the strategy itself. I will outline later how communication skills are an asset you need in your arsenal of competences or skills.   Task: As the QA manager, you have just left a management engagement session on the company’s organizational goals. One of the goals for QA, which you lead, is a 95% improvement in GMP/GHK. Develop a strategy on how to achieve 95% improvement, how to measure progress, and how to ensure plant-wide acceptance of the strategies.

If a Quality Manager consistently causes every Quality Assurance (QA) team member to be terminated from their job in every meeting, it suggests a severe issue within the organization. Here are some potential outcomes or implications of such actions: 1. **Loss of Trust and Morale**: Continuous termination of team members can lead to a loss of trust and morale among the QA team. It creates an environment of fear and uncertainty, which is detrimental to productivity and job satisfaction. 2. **High Turnover**: Constant terminations would likely lead to a high turnover rate within the QA department. This instability can disrupt project timelines, continuity of work, and overall team cohesion. 3. **Impact on Quality**: QA is crucial for ensuring product or service quality. Rapid turnover and constant changes in personnel can compromise the quality control processes, leading to potential issues with product/service quality and customer satisfaction. 4. **Legal and HR Concerns**: Depending on labor laws and company policies, frequent terminations can raise legal and HR concerns. It could lead to investigations into workplace practices, potential lawsuits, or reputational damage for the company. 5. **Leadership Evaluation**: Such actions may prompt an evaluation of the Quality Manager's leadership style and decision-making. It could result in managerial intervention, coaching, or even removal if the behavior is deemed detrimental to the organization. In summary, if a Quality Manager is consistently causing QA team members to be terminated, it indicates serious organizational dysfunction that needs to be addressed promptly to restore stability, trust, and operational effectiveness within the QA department and the broader organization.

True and important facts about the life of a QA are crucially explained in this insightful post. With 9 years of experience, I take pleasure in being a QA, setting up processes, and striving for quality achievement. However, there are various struggles when it comes to emphasizing the importance of QA. Quality should not solely be our responsibility; it requires collective effort to achieve stronger business outcomes by delivering efficient software and services. 👩💻 What do you love most about your QA role, and what challenges do you face? Share your stories and join us in celebrating the unsung heroes of quality assurance! #QualityAssurance #QA #UnsungHeroes #Testers

Only QA needs to worry about quality. 🚫 This is one of the most common misconceptions about QA. Let’s unpack this myth and explore the true essence of quality in the workplace! Quality assurance is often misunderstood as a responsibility that falls solely on the QA department. However, quality is a collective effort, integral to every aspect of a company’s operations. It's about creating a product or service that everyone can be proud of. 👇 Here are some truths to consider: Involvement: Quality touches every part of an organization, from development to delivery. When everyone contributes to quality, the results are not only better products but also more engaged teams. Impact: By integrating quality practices across all departments, companies see improvements in efficiency and customer satisfaction, leading to stronger business outcomes. Innovation: Quality isn’t just about avoiding errors; it’s about setting standards that push the industry forward. Every team member plays a role in driving innovation through high-quality standards. 🔍 The role of QA: While #QA professionals specialize in quality standards and practices, their goal is to embed a quality mindset throughout the organization. When quality becomes a part of the daily conversation—discussed in meetings, planned for in project timelines, and celebrated as a key success metric—it shifts from being a compliance requirement to a core organizational value. What do you love about your QA role, and what are the challenges? Share your stories and help us celebrate the unsung heroes of quality assurance! #QualityManagement #QualityAssurance #QualityCulture

Leading a High Performing QA Team- Allow Nkechi to shine!!!. As a QA manager managing managers and supervisors it is important that you make your team succeed because you are also being accessed by the quality of decisions coming from your team members. One secret I will let you know today is if you involve your team in your decision making, getting their views, make them feel important genuinely and giving them the needed credit when they deserve it and also showcasing them to other people for a task or project well done. There is a chain reaction that is triggered as they will own the process, work for you with their heart, work and walk with you during the blue days.... In leading a high performing team you need to spot out talents...Who is good at what and assign projects with an agreed timeline for delivery and begin to coach and guide them. When you do this you are raising the confidence level of your team and building the next generation of potential QA managers to take up your role as you will not be there forever 😉 (hahahahahaha) read my previous posts on why . Do not lead with fear that your subordinate will take your job. It should be a thing of pride that someone you mentored is stepping into your shoes based on your recommendation, coaching and visibility given to your team members in the presence of management. One trick that works well is do not forget to use the opportunity to make your high performing team members visible to top management when they come around your department or the manufacturing area..Tell top management that this is Nkechi a quality supervisor she was responsible for the incremental gains we had in complaints reduction through a project she led to troubleshoot and eliminate the Big red number - Consumer complaints... also that is Adamu highly dedicated and hardworking. He developed the HACCP plan for the new product line and risk assess that all criteria are met with superp delivery based on agreed timeliness when you showcase your team and recognise them openly and give them the credit there is a high probability that you will succeed in that role and their loyalty will be on a high. So as a QA manager start giving your team members credit for their hardworking and do not go the meeting room taking all the credit.Somehow management will figure out who is doing the job anyways, so it is better you are perceived as a coach with outstanding team members because in all it is a Win for you as you are seen as someone able to lead and manage a team while your team members do more as they also get a sense of fulfilment for their hardwork being recognised. I charge you today to choose this strategy and see a change in the work rate, loyalty and performance of your team. remember to always give Nkechi a credit for her work openly it works like magic... Hey! It is what it is.... author - Osagie iboi MSc

Top Strategies for Effectively Managing Your Team of Quality Assurance Professionals Managing a team of quality assurance professionals requires effective strategies to ensure the highest standards are upheld. Quality assurance teams play a crucial role in identifying and rectifying defects or issues before they impact customers. To successfully manage your QA team, follow these top tips for creating a high-performance environment. 1. Clearly Define Roles and Responsibilities: Provide clarity on the responsibilities of each team member to avoid confusion or overlap. This allows team members to focus on their specialized tasks and enhances productivity. 2. Provide Proper Training and Resources: Invest in training programs and resources to enhance the skills and knowledge of your QA team. Stay updated with industry trends, tools, and methodologies. Equipping your team members with the right resources improves their efficiency and effectiveness. 3. Foster Open Communication: Create an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing concerns, ideas, and feedback. Regular team meetings and individual sessions encourage open discussions, build trust, and camaraderie. 4. Set Clear Goals and Expectations: Define measurable goals and expectations for your QA team. This keeps them focused, motivated, and aligned with organizational objectives. Regularly monitor progress and provide feedback to ensure they stay on track. 5. Promote Collaboration and Teamwork: Encourage collaboration and teamwork among your QA professionals. Foster a culture of knowledge sharing and support. Cross-functional collaborations improve communication and promote a holistic approach to quality assurance. 6. Implement Effective Quality Assurance Processes: Establish efficient quality assurance processes, including test strategies, comprehensive test plans, test case design, and defect tracking procedures. Standardized processes enable the team to identify issues efficiently. 7. Recognize and Reward Achievements: Acknowledge and appreciate the accomplishments of your QA team. Provide appropriate rewards and incentives to motivate exceptional performance. A positive work environment fosters quality-driven efforts. 8. Continuously Monitor and Improve: Regularly evaluate team performance and seek feedback from stakeholders and team members. Identify areas for improvement and optimize strategies to stay ahead in delivering superior quality. Conclusion: Effectively managing a team of quality assurance professionals requires a combination of technical expertise, leadership skills, and effective communication. By implementing these strategies, you can create a high-performance environment that fosters productivity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. A well-managed QA team plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity and quality of your products or services. Eng. Khaled Abdulsalam Shalan #khaled_shalan

Have you ever considered how the Quality Assurance performance at your place of employment compares to other companies? Quality assurance is defined as a systematic process ensuring products, services, or processes meet or exceed preestablished quality standards. In essence it follows a preset process established to prevent defects, identify and resolve issues, and improve overall quality. It is essential to periodically analyze your QA performance in order to identify areas where improvements can be made. Key areas to assess are: - Communication - Efficiency - Level of quality - Flexibility/ability to learn - Adaptation - Able to streamline After your QA performance has be analyzed you will either need to make changes or maintain current presets. If you find that QA is effective and exceeds quality expectations, make sure to give acknowledge to the members of your team that made this possible. It is always appropriate to give praise where it is due. Or if you are so inclined, a raise might be in order. #QA #QualityAssurance #systematicprocess

Why the QA managers Job is the most high-risk job in the FMCG - a case of sipping early morning coffee and a customer complaints changes the roasted smell to a great fear. Ask all the quality managers this tough question. Do you think you sit on a gun powder? Do you think you are one step away from being removed from your position? Every quality manager has this conscious thing going on that complaints or incidents can come with devastating consequences even when the T's are crossed and I's are well dotted. Imagine sipping early morning coffee and then at noon a public alert comes with an incident on one of your products... It is never a moment any QA manager enjoys, no matter the level of expertise. From a gruelling RCA session to developing a CAP, to making presentations and commitment to management team to fix the red to ensuring no other complaints of that magnitude comes is never an exciting experience but you just must enjoy every moment. As a QA manager, you have to be mentally ready to be the unsung hero, be a self-starter, and have a winning mindset in the face of adversity either internally or externally (Osagie 2024). You are the first point of contact when there is a product related issue for as long as the shelf life of that product is valid.Sometimes your job is tied to how well that product behaved during the shelf life of a product. So your job depends on the survival of the products. From my experience, complaints are inevitable. Rarely, you hit your complaints targets. However, you need to be tactical and ensure you focus on what matters most in the type of complaints that is a No - No . The QA manager is faced with 3 milestones first is the company's laid down rule, management rule, and personal values. Often time your personal value resonates with the companies laid down rules but always inverse to the management rule, and that's where the main issues lie (Osagie 2024).... Over the course of my career, i have seen QA managers axed the next day for internal quality issues as well as external it is never a good experience. You have to be armed to the teeth especially with root cause analysis and finding the plans to fix the issues. You have to allow your personal value lead atimes, sometimes you have align with a win-win mindset. You of course need to have an ownership mindset, think like a business owner and do not fear issues. Remember if you are not doing anything wrong it technically means you are not doing anything. Recognise that adversity is part of the job and find a way to fix or scale it. let every of your decision be from risk based approach and not from an emotional or fear perspectives. Be the LION in your own field. Can you reflect in your own words how your personal values get in the way against management value and aligns with the company's value. Author- Osagie iboi

If you work as a QA manager, then you understand this: The value of a streamlined approach to knowledge management is of great importance. The expectations and needs of quality assurance (QA) have increased in today's digital landscape. 💡 You probably also realise that an efficient knowledge management system is not a luxury, but a necessity. Here is why (you can find the link to our latest blogpost in the comments)👇 #business #qamanager #knowledgemanagementsystem