Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers

Inspector
QA Auditor (Quality Assurance Auditor)
QA Inspector (Quality Assurance Inspector)
QA Technician (Quality Assurance Technician)
QC Technician (Quality Control Technician)
Quality Auditor
Quality Control Inspector (QC Inspector)
Quality Inspector
Quality Technician
Test Technician

What is an Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, and Weigher?

Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers are professionals who play a crucial role in quality control and assurance processes across various industries, including manufacturing, food production, and pharmaceuticals. Their primary responsibility is to examine products or materials to ensure they meet specified standards and regulations. Inspectors evaluate finished goods or raw materials for defects and adherence to specifications, while testers conduct experiments and assessments to measure various attributes such as strength, durability, and performance. Sorters categorize items based on defined criteria, ensuring that only products that meet quality standards proceed through the production line. Samplers take representative samples from larger batches for testing and analysis, which helps in monitoring quality variations over time. Weighers utilize precision scales to determine the mass of products, contributing to accurate production outcomes and compliance with shipping and inventory requirements. These roles are essential in maintaining product integrity, enhancing customer satisfaction, and reducing waste in production processes.

Career Assessment
Career Assessment

Tasks

  • Discard or reject products, materials, or equipment not meeting specifications.
  • Mark items with details, such as grade or acceptance-rejection status.
  • Measure dimensions of products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as rulers, calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
  • Notify supervisors or other personnel of production problems.
  • Inspect, test, or measure materials, products, installations, or work for conformance to specifications.

Technology Skills

Knowledge

  • Production and Processing

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

  • English Language

    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • Customer and Personal Service

    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

  • Mechanical

    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • Mathematics

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

Skills

  • Quality Control Analysis

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

  • Critical Thinking

    Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

  • Writing

    Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

  • 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.

  • Judgment and Decision Making

    Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Abilities

  • Oral Expression

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation?

  • High school diploma or equivalent
    70 %

    or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate

  • Post-secondary certificate
    27 %

    Awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in Personnel Services, Engineering-related Technologies, Vocational Home Economics, Construction Trades, Mechanics and Repairers, Precision Production Trades)

  • Some college, no degree
    3 %

Work Activities

  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings

    Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

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

  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

    Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates

    Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

  • Documenting/Recording Information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Evaluate quality of materials or products.
  • Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs.
  • Record operational or production data.

Work Interests

  • Realistic

    Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

  • Conventional

    Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

  • Investigative

    Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Advertisement

Get a Well-Paying Job Fast

Start Your Career

Get Started
Job Outlook

Projected salary and job growth

$31950.0 - $72210.0

New job opportunities are less likely in the future. : Below Average

Assessment

Related assessments and tests

No assessment available.