Hi everybody,

I worked in a semiconductor company which in Suzhou, China, and as a QA, I’m always confused with what is the most important in Quality field, what kind of knowledge should I learn, I know there’re many…..
Me, just graduated from college last year, and this is my second job because last company was bankrupt. I know there’re many professional people and all they are with rich experience, so I come here.
I had engineering bachelor degree, and with good spoken English, how can I get into other field such as automobile, lean, mechanical etc...
I’m waiting here for your recommendation and guidance.

Thank you!

Welcome to the Cove!

What you ask is a tall order.
Every person on this board will have a different answer.

My advice would be to focus on what you enjoy doing.
Do you like organizing things - focus on project management
Do you like crunching numbers - maybe quality engineering
Do you like improving processes - look into Lean, Toyota Production System, Six Sigma, etc.
Do you like working with people - look into a management track and/or training

"Quality" is a gigantic subject. Maybe go to the ASQ web site (www.asq.org) and look at where that offer certifications - that can give you an idea at how the ASQ compatmentalizes Quality.

I took the get my fingers into everything I could path early in my career to figure out what it is that I really like.

And by all means - please come back and keep asking questions. Hopefully a few of us can set you on a path where you'll find what you want to do.

Hi everybody,

I worked in a semiconductor company which in Suzhou, China, and as a QA, I’m always confused with what is the most important in Quality field, what kind of knowledge should I learn, I know there’re many…..
Me, just graduated from college last year, and this is my second job because last company was bankrupt. I know there’re many professional people and all they are with rich experience, so I come here.
I had engineering bachelor degree, and with good spoken English, how can I get into other field such as automobile, lean, mechanical etc...
I’m waiting here for your recommendation and guidance.

Thank you!

Ni Hao and welcome from a cove member in Suzhou :D

Instead of "What to learn in Quality Assurance", make a list of "What Not to learn in Quality Assurance" - as everything seems so important and relevant. ;)

The requirements will also vary from one type of industry to another.

Ni Hao,

Based on your "resume", you are fresh to quality, and to a professional life. Perhaps start from what your current responsibility. Start from learning to be good at your current position and see if you like it. Do come back to visit even though you do not have a question to ask. You will be amazed by how much you can learn here.

Learn to speak the language of money, so you can capture the interest of upper managers whose focus points are profits and the business plan.

Hello Alan!

We sure are glad you dropped by here! Welcome!

I think Scott did a good job starting this thread off. I know all too well that you get out of college, and it seems the whole world is open to you. If you go ahead and start narrowing down some do's/dont's, and possibly some likes/dislikes, it may help you figure out which fields will be interesting to you.

Starting off with an engineering degree is a good start.

As Scott mentioned, there's a whole world out there. There's calibration/metrology, reliability engineering, statistics, design of experiments, Information systems, healthcare, on and on. Each, though, has its characteristics. I would think you would want to look at a career you would enjoy, and not one that would drive you crazy!:bonk:

Look forward to hearing some more from you!

BTW... Your written English looks pretty good also.:yes:

Thank you ScottK and other warmhearted guys for your fast response, I don’t know whether it is different or not between China and America especially the extent of quality development.
What I did in my company maybe is just the “crunching numbers”, “improving processes” as you mentioned.
What I can learn in my company now is so limited, here no 6SIGMA, no TS16949….
I just know some DOE (not very professional), FMEA, IQC, OQC, IPQC, how to deal with the customer’s complaints (8D), customer’s audit, SPC (just the theory)…
My friends keep asking me why I didn’t learn by myself. Well, it’s not up to me?!
The manager always inhibits me doing something that he considered important, I guess he’s afraid of that I’m going to catch up him. Who cares? I just want to learn something, learn more. I read many book on quality as I could to prepare and wait for a good opportunity.
One of my American friends Alex, he’s now working for Mittal to be Asia Manager.
He once told me, if you really want to learn something just do it.
So maybe after half a year, I will leave this company and to find another good company that really can make me do want I’m good at.

Thank you ScottK and other warmhearted guys for your fast response, I don’t know whether it is different or not between China and America especially the extent of quality development.
What I did in my company maybe is just the “crunching numbers”, “improving processes” as you mentioned.
What I can learn in my company now is so limited, here no 6SIGMA, no TS16949….
I just know some DOE (not very professional), FMEA, IQC, OQC, IPQC, how to deal with the customer’s complaints (8D), customer’s audit, SPC (just the theory)…
My friends keep asking me why I didn’t learn by myself. Well, it’s not up to me?!
The manager always inhibits me doing something that he considered important, I guess he’s afraid of that I’m going to catch up him. Who cares? I just want to learn something, learn more. I read many book on quality as I could to prepare and wait for a good opportunity.
One of my American friends Alex, he’s now working for Mittal to be Asia Manager.
He once told me, if you really want to learn something just do it.
So maybe after half a year, I will leave this company and to find another good company that really can make me do want I’m good at.

I think your friend Alex gave you good advise.
The best way to learn is by doing. Even if you have to do it on your own.
Try reading on techniques that apply to what your current job is and then try to implement them yourself. There no rule that you have to have any formal training to use 6s or Lean methodology or to use "5 whys" to solve a problem.

If your manager interferes you can tactfully remind him that your successes reflect well on him. Then get the heck out of there if he's really paranoid about someone stealing his position.

I agree that there should be no constraint to your learning and professional progress. Your boss is welcome to continue in the dark ages as he sees fit, but you need not do so.

There are many skeptics of the American Society for Quality professional certifications, but I have found the learning process in preparation for the exams very helpful. Having already achieved a Bachelors in engineering, you might look into the Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) cert.

Welcome to the Cove!

What you ask is a tall order.
Every person on this board will have a different answer.

My advice would be to focus on what you enjoy doing.
Do you like organizing things - focus on project management
Do you like crunching numbers - maybe quality engineering
Do you like improving processes - look into Lean, Toyota Production System, Six Sigma, etc.
Do you like working with people - look into a management track and/or training

"Quality" is a gigantic subject. Maybe go to the ASQ web site (www.asq.org (http://www.asq.org)) and look at where that offer certifications - that can give you an idea at how the ASQ compatmentalizes Quality.

I took the get my fingers into everything I could path early in my career to figure out what it is that I really like.

And by all means - please come back and keep asking questions. Hopefully a few of us can set you on a path where you'll find what you want to do.

As an example I started in the QA department, but sampling, inspection and process control was boring and tedious to me. After 4 yrs of it I switched over to being a business analyst (internal auditor) and maintaining the quality system which was much more interesting for me, auditing all the business processes and have been doing that for the last 8 yrs. I cannot even remember how to calculate sigma for CpK now, however, I would much rather be in a room full of stakeholders and process owners mapping out a business process to find disconnects than be staring at a control chart trying to dial it in. Different strokes for different folks. As far as job security, I have worked for two major electronics companies both had layoffs. The QA/QC dept was always hit but the corporate audit team was never touched.

During my 20 years of experience in Process Control and Quality Assurance in a US mutinational Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the following quality problem solving/quality improvement tools were taught and used by key operational personnel (managers, engineers and technicians, supervisors):
1. Basic Seven QC Tools
2. Basic SPC
3. Advanced SPC
4. FMEA
5. Design for Six Sigma
6. Desing of Experiments (Taguchi Methods)

You can get lots of information on any of the above topic on the websits. ASQ web-site provides a very good write up on Basic Quality Concepts & Tools.

Eric

Engineering is not only a wide field but a growing one. Universities can only give you the basic fundamentals and you need to make use of these as you embark on a new learning process whenever you move into a new segment or industry.

Asking what is the most important knowledge that one should have appears irrelevant unless you already made up your mind on what to do.

To me, a fresh graduate should take a course on the practical side of Engineering to complement his/her theoretically knowledge. For this, I think courses like CQE is relevant and good. A good foundation built up this way would enable you to quickly pick up new and specialized knowledge in tools such as those in automotive, aircraft or even six sigma when opportunities and need arise.

This would be the best preparation you can give to yourself for you don't know what's coming your way.