Quality Hold

Term from Quality Control industry explained for recruiters

A Quality Hold is a standard business practice where products or materials are temporarily prevented from moving forward in production or shipping until quality concerns are resolved. It's like pressing a pause button to make sure everything meets safety and quality standards before proceeding. This process is crucial in manufacturing, food production, pharmaceuticals, and other industries where product safety and quality are essential. When someone mentions Quality Hold in their resume, they're showing experience with quality control procedures and decision-making responsibility.

Examples in Resumes

Implemented Quality Hold procedures that reduced defective product shipments by 35%

Managed Quality Hold and Product Hold decisions for manufacturing line producing medical devices

Led team responsible for reviewing Quality Hold items and determining corrective actions

Typical job title: "Quality Control Specialists"

Also try searching for:

Quality Assurance Specialist Quality Control Inspector QA Manager Quality Control Supervisor Quality Assurance Analyst Quality Control Technician Production Quality Manager

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: Can you describe a situation where you implemented or improved a Quality Hold process?

Expected Answer: Look for answers that demonstrate leadership in creating or improving systems, experience with risk assessment, and ability to balance quality requirements with business needs.

Q: How do you handle conflicts between production targets and quality holds?

Expected Answer: Strong answers should show decision-making ability, communication skills with different departments, and understanding of both quality and business impact.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What documentation do you maintain when placing items on Quality Hold?

Expected Answer: Candidate should mention tracking systems, documentation requirements, communication protocols, and follow-up procedures.

Q: How do you determine when to release items from Quality Hold?

Expected Answer: Should discuss evaluation criteria, testing procedures, approval processes, and documentation requirements for releasing holds.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the basic steps in implementing a Quality Hold?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain basic process: identifying issues, marking/segregating affected items, documentation, and notification procedures.

Q: Why are Quality Holds important in manufacturing?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of quality control basics, product safety, and the importance of preventing defective products from reaching customers.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic quality inspection procedures
  • Documentation of quality issues
  • Understanding of hold procedures
  • Basic problem identification

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Quality hold decision making
  • Root cause analysis
  • Communication with multiple departments
  • Quality system documentation

Senior (5+ years)

  • Quality system development
  • Team leadership
  • Process improvement
  • Risk management

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No knowledge of basic quality control procedures
  • Inability to explain documentation requirements
  • Lack of experience with quality management systems
  • Poor understanding of safety and compliance requirements