Employment of quality control inspectors is projected to show little or no change from 2014 to 2024.
Many manufacturers have invested in automated inspection equipment to improve quality and productivity. Continued improvements in technology allow manufacturers to automate inspection tasks, increasing workers' productivity and reducing the demand for inspectors.
Manufacturers increasingly are integrating quality control into the production process. Many inspection duties are being reassigned from specialized inspectors to fabrication and assembly workers, who monitor quality at every stage of production. In addition, the growing use of statistical process control results in smarter inspections. Using this system, manufacturers survey the sources and incidence of defects so that they can focus their efforts on reducing the number of defective products. These factors are expected to result in less demand for quality control inspectors.
Despite technological advances in quality control in many industries, automation is not always a substitute for inspecting by hand. Personal inspections will continue to be needed for products that require testing taste, smell, texture, appearance, complexity of fabric, or performance of the product. Automation will likely become more important for inspecting elements related to size, such as length, width, or thickness.
Job Prospects
Good job opportunities are expected to arise over the coming decade as quality control inspectors retire or leave the occupation for other reasons.
Those with advanced skills, such as improvement certifications for Lean and Six Sigma, and related work experience should qualify for many of these quality control inspector positions.
Quality Control Inspectors
Percent change in employment, projected 2014-24
Total, all occupations
7%
Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
0%
Production occupations
-3%
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program