Quality Manager/Operations Manager

Hello all,

Has anyone ever heard of Quality being head of Operations as well? I work for a extremely small storage and distribution company and our Operations Manager is leaving. I was asked if I could replace him while still maintaining all of my Quality responsibilities. I have never personally seen any position like this so I was curious if it could even work. We have a total of 3 employees (excluding the Operations Manager who is leaving), two of which are warehouse associates. Thank you!

Hello all,

 

Has anyone ever heard of Quality being head of Operations as well? I work for a extremely small storage and distribution company and our Operations Manager is leaving. I was asked if I could replace him while still maintaining all of my Quality responsibilities. I have never personally seen any position like this so I was curious if it could even work. We have a total of 3 employees (excluding the Operations Manager who is leaving), two of which are warehouse associates. Thank you!

Can it be done, Yes. However, there are many issues with conflict of interest with the Operations Manager also being the Quality Manager. With that being said If they are expecting you to also have the responsibilities of the Operation Manager they should also expect to pay you for the extra responsibilities that you would have. Running Quality/Food Safety alone is a major task, introducing Ops on top of that is definitely something that you should receive a major compensation boost.

Can it be done, Yes. However, there are many issues with conflict of interest with the Operations Manager also being the Quality Manager. With that being said If they are expecting you to also have the responsibilities of the Operation Manager they should also expect to pay you for the extra responsibilities that you would have. Running Quality/Food Safety alone is a major task, introducing Ops on top of that is definitely something that you should receive a major compensation boost.

Thank you for your reply. Yes. I would be asking for a major compensation boost and I understand the conflict of interest aspect but can it be argued that the merge creates more of a Quality driven operation? I also understand other areas of concern such as back-up designation but I was just curious if this has ever been heard of and could it work with such a small company.

As a consultant I've worked with Operation Managers that took on role of Quality but not the other way around.

However I don't see how it would not work, except that Quality would normally report to Operstions, but in this way it would be a conflict to report to yourself - thus you need to establish the organizational aspects for the position and it needs to be very clean and while you are at it, get a 65% boost in salary. 

Thank you for your reply. Yes. I would be asking for a major compensation boost and I understand the conflict of interest aspect but can it be argued that the merge creates more of a Quality driven operation? I also understand other areas of concern such as back-up designation but I was just curious if this has ever been heard of and could it work with such a small company.

As Glenn said it is something that is possible and probably happens often with smaller operations. And iirc there was specific talks about how some locations will have their managers focus on multiple "departments" in the PCQI training I did under AIB. Honestly, if you are willing to take on the responsibility, are being compensated properly and willing to make sure that you are having a different Qualified Individual do the monitoring so you can verify it there shouldn't be any major issues.

It can work but another thing to think about - is there someone else to take on the responsibility when you aren't there. You don't want to be tied to the job 24/7. 

I recently helped a two person food manufacuture  (owner and one  employee that basically handles  all of operations - production, food safety, maintenance, sanitation, shipping and recieving, etc) attain their SQFI certification.    

Its possible.   Im a little impressed that a company of your size has (had) a dedicated quality /food safety person.