Inspector and Tester
Inspectors and testers play a vital role in the manufacturing and production industries, focusing on quality control to ensure that materials and products meet specific standards. Their work involves analyzing various manufactured items, including electronics, construction materials, and industrial equipment, to assess construction, safety, and functionality. Typically working in manufacturing facilities, inspectors and testers often wear protective gear to safeguard against hazards and maintain product integrity. The occupation is particularly suited for individuals with strong mathematical skills and attention to detail, and it may attract both younger professionals and retirees seeking supplemental income.
While a high school diploma is generally sufficient for entry-level positions, the complexity of specific industries may necessitate additional training or education. Inspectors and testers engage in diverse responsibilities, from reviewing blueprints and production data to documenting inefficiencies in manufacturing processes. Their insights are crucial for maintaining quality and productivity standards, making them integral to industries such as aerospace, automotive, and medical manufacturing. As technology evolves, ongoing training is essential to keep pace with advancements in inspection tools and methodologies.
Inspector and Tester
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Manufacturing
Interests: Mathematics, quality control, working with your hands, detailed work
Earnings (Yearly Median): $49,260 per year $23.68 per hour (2023)
Employment & Outlook: -4 percent (Decline)
Entry-Level Education High school diploma or equivalent
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job-Training Moderate-term on-the-job training
Overview
Sphere of Work. Inspectors and testers analyze manufactured or assembled materials for purposes of quality control. Electronics, materials related to construction and engineering, industrial equipment, engines, instruments, and other apparatus are all examples of materials that inspectors and testers analyze. They review newly completed systems and system elements to ensure their proper construction, safety, and functionality. Review of newly completed materials also offers inspectors and testers insight into the function of automated production processes, ensuring that they are meeting pre-established quality and productivity standards.
Work Environment. Inspectors and testers work in nonagricultural production and manufacturing facilities. Inspectors are commonly required to wear protective equipment, notably eye and hand protection, which is worn for their individual safety and to avoid contaminating new products. Depending on the production facility, the quality control process may take place away from production facilities in clean climate-controlled areas independent of manufacturing lines.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the industries with the highest amount of employees working as testers and inspectors were employment services (37,410 in 2022), plastics manufacturing (31,320), architectural and engineering services (28,410), motor vehicle parts manufacturing (23,710), and aerospace manufacturing (20,710). The oil and gas extraction industry paid the most in the field, with a 2022 mean annual salary of $107,060.
Occupation Interest. The field of inspection and testing tends to attract mathematically skilled individuals with some professional or educational experience in industrial trades. Some inspectors are young professionals eager to gain experience in production and manufacturing who supplement the role with related coursework. Others are retirees and older workers who become inspectors and testers as a means of supplemental income in a part-time capacity.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. To make sound judgments on the quality of newly manufactured goods, inspectors and testers must be very versed in product specifications and functions. For inspectors and testers who inspect a small number of similar products, this skill can be learned with experience and can be honed over time with on-the-job training and assistance from more experienced staff members.
Some inspectors and testers work at custom fabrication or specialty manufacturing facilities that produce a variety of different products. A large part of their job consists of evaluating new product specifications and requirements, including the study of blueprints, production, and testing data, as well as a detailed review of specific production processes.
The inspection and testing process itself varies from industry to industry. Inspectors and testers in materials manufacturing may be charged with inspecting goods at a rapid pace immediately following the final phases of production.
Inspectors and testers who work on larger components and entire systems may spend entire days or even several weeks examining machinery or systems. This is particularly true of inspectors and testers employed in manufacturing industries related to transportation, defense, energy, and medicine.
A major responsibility of an inspection staff is to document any inefficiencies or problems they encounter to notify superiors and other production staff of problems. Data recorded by inspection and testing staff also tracks production efficiency, error type, and frequency.
Airplane Inspectors. Airplane Inspectors examine aircraft to see that repairs match specifications and certify airworthiness.
Electronics Inspectors. Electronics Inspectors examine parts, sub-assemblies, and assemblies for conformance to specifications.
Assemblies and Installations Inspectors. Assemblies and Installations Inspectors inspect assemblies and major structures and complete aircraft for safety and correct detail.
Exhaust Emissions Inspectors. Exhaust Emissions Inspectors inspect and test automobile emission control systems.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Inspectors and testers primarily work in manufacturing and industrial settings, including assembly and fabrication facilities.
Plant Environment. Inspectors and testers work across numerous nonagricultural and raw material manufacturing industries, including appliance manufacturing, transportation, defense, medical, and construction supply manufacturing.
Human Environment. A degree of collaboration during the testing and inspection process can vary from industry to industry. The role does require frequent communication between inspection staff, clients, and production supervisors.
Technological Environment. Many inspection and testing jobs require the use of complex and highly calibrated diagnostic apparatus and machinery, while others utilize simple tools, such as scales and other measurement equipment. Technological skills and the ability to grasp technological concepts quickly are crucial components of the position.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students can best prepare for a career in inspection with courses in algebra, calculus, geometry, trigonometry, biology, chemistry, physics, and introductory computer science. Industrial art classes can also serve as an important foundation for careers involving engineering processes and design schematics.
Postsecondary. Postsecondary education is not traditionally a requirement for most roles in inspection and testing, particularly entry-level positions. The requirement for postsecondary education usually increases with the degree of complexity of the inspection and testing processes and the nature of the employing industry.
Advanced degrees are a common requirement for inspectors and testers employed in the transportation, precision medical equipment, electronics, and defense manufacturing industries. Inspectors and testers employed in these industries may also be required to complete ongoing coursework and training related to their occupations to keep up with technological developments and industry trends.
Related Occupations
− Construction & Building Inspector
− Inspector & Compliance Officer
− Nuclear Quality Control Inspector
Bibliography
"Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers." Occupational Employment Statistics. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes519061.htm. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.
"Quality Control Inspectors." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/production/quality-control-inspectors.htm. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.