Beyond statistics: insights of quality professionals on required competencies in the quality engineer profession

This study examines the evolving competencies required for quality engineers in contemporary industry. A non-anonymous questionnaire was distributed among members of the Israeli Society for Quality. Since respondents provided personal and professional details, the verified group of professionals was treated as an expert panel representing recognized knowledge and experience in the field. The questionnaire included items on routine competencies (e.g. statistics, auditing, communication) and emerging ones (e.g. risk management, big data analytics, sustainability). Data were analyzed using statistical tests, reporting the relative importance and significance of different competencies. Findings show that quality professionals assign the highest importance to interpersonal and quality management skills, while traditional technical competencies are ranked lower. Among emerging competencies, risk management was identified as the most critical, surpassing digitalization and environmental protection. Overall, the results highlight a gap between academic preparation, which still emphasizes technical expertise, and practical industry requirements for hybrid profiles that combine managerial, interpersonal, and resilience-oriented competencies. The study suggests that curricula should rebalance technical training with greater focus on quality management and risk management competencies to better align graduates with market needs.