Would you leave the Quality Assurance profession given the option?

[Wes Bucey]

Yep. Sad to say, folks, PDCA is a good system to follow when you look at your job status. In today's climate, more and more top bosses say to the lower echelon, "Who are you going to believe? Me or your lying eyes?" Just consider the matter of the "disappearing pension." It happens because of fraud (Enron), mismanagement (KMart & Sears), external forces (United and other major airlines), but the effect on the worker is the same:
POOF! and the pension goes up in smoke, despite all the rosy promises, and even partial payments made to the workers.
Every factor of your job is ALWAYS on the line. You have to remain vigilant and sometimes confer with others to see if your perception is correct when you think you are getting the short end of the stick. Once you are sure, then ACT! How you act (fight, leave, or lay down) is up to you.

 

[SteelWoman]

I'm actually entertaining a job offer TODAY that will take me out of Quality systems and into training in the mental health field - my degree is actually in Psychology. It looks attractive next to a building level of frustration with doing quality in an environment where it is no longer really supported (major management change a year ago). And I honestly don't think it's just here that support for quality systems is degrading. I hear more and more people talking about quality systems just being a great big game. If I ask myself if this place would continue the quality system if the Big3 came out tomorrow and said it's no longer REQUIRED, the answer is no - they'd drop the quality system before the day was out. And while I know that's not true of everyone or every place, it is unfortunately quite true in much of manufacturing. That's more and more debilitating to work under that realization.

sigh.....

 

[db]

I'm actually entertaining a job offer TODAY that will take me out of Quality systems and into training in the mental health field ...

Being around us also gave you lots of practice! But seriously, if you go, you don't have to be a stranger.

 

[SteelWoman]

You're right... if nothing else my many years in manufacturing have REALLY prepared me to work in the mental health field!!!

 

[Randy Stewart]

my degree is actually in Psychology

Steel,
You know what they say . . Those who need it the most are the ones that go into it!!!!
I can say that , my first degree was a BS in Clinical Psyc.

 

[SteelWoman]

Sounds like we crazy people sure know where to find like-minded people - in QUALITY!

 

[Ken K]

You could always set up a Dr. Steel forum on here...



...of course you would probably be booked solid for the next 20 years

 

[SteelWoman]

You are sooooo right!

 

[qualitymanager]

I'm actually entertaining a job offer TODAY that will take me out of Quality systems and into training in the mental health field - my degree is actually in Psychology....

Go for it - remember what Taguchi had to say about Quality.

If you can be of greater benefit to the society by leaving the "Quality" field, then, IMO, you are truly following the Quality philosophy.

 

[Don Palmer]

Quality is in my blood!

QUESTION: Would you leave the Quality Assurance profession given the option?

I don't see how it would be possible for me to leave the quality profession. Quality principles 'tried and true' have been ingrained in me since early childhood. I worked with my Dad from the time I was a very small boy. He is a retired master craftsman (cabinet maker/carpenter) from the 'Old School' TOC. Mom is a perfectionist! My first part time job (while in high school) was working for a man who taught me well about 'customer satisfaction' and solid quality principles.

So, all my life 'quality' has followed me like a little puppy. If I were forced to take a job on the 'dark side' quality would tag along with me. Quality and I are inseparable.