June 11, 2026 Savvy businesses wouldn’t hire a chief financial officer who had never taken accounting, or recruit a music major as a product engineer. Why is it, then, that so many organizations fill quality control positions with people who have no formal subject matter education?   “People who end up working in quality control are often ‘voluntold’ into the position,” said Chris McDonald, department head and assistant professor of the Quality Science Certificate program at GRCC. “Someone with good problem solving skills or attention to detail gets drafted into this role. The challenge is that they don’t have a technical foundation upon which to build. If they’re learning from colleagues who also had no formal training, the company is, in essence, ‘making copies of bad copies’. Relying on second-hand knowledge creates bad habits that are hard to correct.” While promoting from within is admirable, the whole purpose of quality control is to avoid errors. When the people responsible for quality do not have the technical knowledge to achieve that goal, the bottom line suffers. “If we’re scrapping products, we’re losing money,” said Paulette Zebell, Quality and Training Manager for Atlas Molded Products . “Poor quality increases waste and rework, and damages customer relationships. It’s the fastest way to lose time and credibility.” Quality Science Education Generates Immediate ROI Fortunately, GRCC provides a Quality Science Certificate program that is responsive to industry needs, equips people with the expertise they need and offers an immediate ROI. “What students learn today, they can implement tomorrow,” McDonald said. “We focus on evidence-based tools and processes that are directly connected to the real world. We’re teaching students about tools such as Six Sigma and lean manufacturing. We’re also honing their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Our industry Advisory Board helps us evaluate our quality program and ensure that it meets their needs, so we know it’s always relevant.” Paulette Zebell is quite clear on the ROI that she and Atlas have seen from their investment in education. “Employees who earn a quality science certificate from GRCC build a strong foundation,” Zebell said. “They can contribute faster. They make fewer mistakes, solve problems quickly, and can understand the ‘why’ behind what they’re doing. That’s a lot different than someone who is just following instructions. Over time, their knowledge reduces scrap, improves efficiency and creates consistency. ”    Keep Customers, Retain Employees GRCC currently offers a Quality Science Certificate, and will offer an associate degree starting with the winter 2027 semester. The certificate program is available completely online, which makes it easier for working professionals to gain the skills they need. And with programs like Michigan Reconnect covering the cost for those 25 and over who have not earned a degree, many companies find the education to be free. Even if an organization invests the $2,300 (or less) in having an employee earn their quality science certificate, McDonald points out that the upside revenue potential dwarfs the cost of tuition. “When I worked in plastic injection molding, our studies showed that one bad part — which cost about $.35 — would end up costing us over $2,000 if it went through the return and rework process,” McDonald said. “Preventing one error on one part could literally cover the entire cost of tuition.” That’s the short-term benefit, but there’s a whole lot more at stake. “People think that customers leave to find a lower price, but that’s not true,” McDonald said. “If you provide zero defect products, your customers will stick. If by chance they leave, they will come back! Customers will actually pay a premium to avoid dealing with bad parts.” Zebell agrees, but adds that employee retention is also a huge benefit. “I stayed with Atlas because they invested in me,” Zebell said. “In my current role, I see the same thing happen over and over again. When you invest in people, when you give them the opportunity to learn, they give back to the business. It’s shortsighted to think that if you train people, they will leave. I’ve seen the return when we reward people who want to learn and contribute.” Visit the Quality Science Certificate web page to learn more about career outlook in West Michigan and program courses. This story was reported by Julie Hordyk.