Would you leave the Quality Assurance profession given the option?

[Bill Pflanz]

I once bought my wife the book "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" (Guys: I'm not recommending that approach). She threw the book at me (literally), and scowled until she found out her best friend had read it - THEN IT WAS OK! Go figure.

Also A coworker was just telling me about a story in the Wall Street Journal about great gifts to buy for your wife and it recommended lingerie. A letter to the editor was just written shortly after about a guy (about 50 years old) who decided to take the advice and bought his wife some sexy underwear.

His wife threw it back at him and said if she wanted to wear dental floss she would buy her own.

Do you want to see if that advice would work better for you?

I already decided that with 27 years invested, it would be too costly to risk my marriage to give it a try.

Bill Pflanz

 

[mshell]

If you would have posted this survey when I was at my last company the answer would have been IN A HEARTBEAT but the new company that I am working for seems to get it so I am happy!!!

 

[J Oliphant]

'deliriously'

I vote the word 'deliriously' should be stricken from the record.

I mean, I'm not about to 'leave' quality (I actually trying hard to 'enter' it). But how does the word 'deliriously' possibly describe this field.

I just walked into a chief engineer to chat a lot on some process conditions and I noticed the recent addition of a home-made button entitled 'ISO SUCKS'. such is life. you have people that don't care and people that don't cooperate. Chemistry is a tad friendlier this way -atoms are amiable enough little guys, and even the computers/instruments seem friendlier then getting someone to really change anything when issued a corrective action request.

Moreover after herculien efforts, there isn't a herculien reward (monetarily).

I'm seeing signs everyone that demings and jurans influence seem to slipping. And if that ain't it, perhaps even ISO itself will follow TQM's lead into the acronyms industry use to believe in.

challenged-yes, and I have my reasons to continue (and even expand), but definitely NOT delirious. that is not delirious in a good sence.

 

[Craig H.]

J

But sometimes being delirious is not such a bad thing.....


Craig H.

 

[Tom W]

It's all about the Benjamins!$$$$$$$$$

 

[Govind]

I voted that Iam deliriously happy being in Quality function. I have been in Quality for 18 years now and I do not have any regrets. I was an Operations manager for 2 years in between. But, still had Quality function under the portfolio.

Being In Quality offers responsibility to represent the Customer for the product and processes. Internal process owners are supposed to treat their next process as an internal customer. But, I think these concepts are ideal, cultural based.

It comes down to the Quality function to ensure that the process is effective? Or the Products are acceptable to customer?

Well take the Scenario;
Quality department is a Support function. Yes, we add value ( atleast we strongly feel) to the products and processes.

For those who strongly feel that their Quality department is a value add to the organization, be a devil's advocate and critically analyze activity by activity; deliverable by deliverable.

Then try asking a Question to yourself:
If your organization decides to close down the Quality department completely and transfer Quality functions to manufacturing and process engineering, Do you think the organization will come to a stand still without your department?

This is a painful, yet practical answer, NO.

Three fourth of the poll still does not prefer Quality!

We, as Quality professionals are very vulnerable during difficult times of the organizations. Organizations cannot get away from not doing Quality Functions. Customers will lose confidence. But these functions can be transferred to related departments like Manufacturing and Process engineering and the organization can still run.

These are my thoughts.

Govind.

 

[Tanahy]

Simply, shallow who leaves!

Its my first day at this forum, and i never thought that people outside egypt may be same as inside here and how bored they are from working with quality sometimes... but i have my FIXED opinion about this issue, actually , about WHAT WORK IS and why we work, regardless the money issue, if you are getting paid teh same from two jobs, which one you will select?

for me, i will choose the one that my effect on it will be higher, my achievements will be more effective and my role will make bigger differences, dont you all believe that Quality Engineer is one of the most effective persons in his place? dont you believe that a change you made in your organization may change a whole cultural minds and a whole trend of your company and way effective changes in your companies profites and incomes?

to be working with all departments.. grapping all the experience from every one and MUST understand all what is going arround you everywhere, wow, i cant even tell, we can bear the paper work, and the yelling of some people that hates rules and changes, and the pain in the back from too much sitting on our disks just to watch a Quality system rising the company from a level to a higher level

wish you all best of luck in your careers

 

[Quality101]

18 years in quality.

I just dont see what is so exciting about quality? When I first started I loved the challenge but after 10 or more years of getting beat up by customers, and kissing :ca: I wonder to myself is this it? I feel more like a used car salesman. How do you get out of a rut like this?

 

[SteelWoman]

I enjoy quality immensely, but would leave it completely given the right opportunity, which in my mind at least would be sitting on a stool placing screws on widgets 8 hours a day. I wish I was joking, but I'm not. The stress level inherent in either Quality or maybe it's just this industry is starting to wear on me. I'm very good at what I do and I actually DO enjoy doing it, but when saying "Welcome to Walmart" 8 hours a day starts to sound attractive, maybe it's time to think career change.

 

[SteelMaiden]

Would I leave quality field...or just quit being a quality manager?

If someone gave me enough money right now to open an icecream shop, I'd be there in a heartbeat! Of course, I'd take everything that I have learned about customer satisfaction and put it to use. So, in essence, I would not be leaving the quality field, just putting it to use where I would be guaranteed 100% commitment, 100% of the time. lol!