Quality Assurance (QA): An Interview with Jackie Selden
At Ritchie, the Quality Assurance role ensures our products meet strict regulatory, safety, and industry standards. Through careful inspections, testing, and process control. QA helps minimise risks, ensure traceability, and maintain customer trust. Ultimately, our QA processes allow us to deliver consistent, reliable, and compliant products.
Building on our interviews with welder Janice and Workshop Manager Linda, we sit down with our Quality Assurance Manager, Jackie Selden. She shares her career journey, insights on the evolving STEM landscape, and advice for women aspiring to enter the field.
A Career Built on a Passion for Manufacturing
Jackie’s career spans over three decades in production and manufacturing, with the last 15 years dedicated specifically to quality assurance. Yet, QA wasn’t a path she originally set out to follow.
“I didn’t necessarily choose the path. I ended up in manufacturing companies and found the whole process of ‘making’ something really good. I’ve stayed in the industry ever since, working mainly in production and quality departments,” Jackie explains.
Women in STEM: A changing landscape and advice for aspiring QA professionals
STEM careers have traditionally been male-dominated, but Jackie has seen significant progress over the years.
“I’ve seen more and more women in the industries. I do believe it’s changing,” she says.
This positive shift highlights the growing recognition of diverse perspectives and the importance of inclusive work environments. For women considering a career in QA Jackie offers simple but powerful advice:
“Do a job that makes you happy and interests you. Don’t ever feel that being a female is something that should hold you back.”
The Rewards and Challenges of Quality Assurance
A career in QA offers meaningful rewards, as well as real challenges. Jackie describes her favourite part of the role:
“I love learning something new.”
Working in a Quality Assurance role brings the satisfaction of making a visible impact. Improving products, protecting customers, and strengthening the company’s reputation. It’s a role that offers continuous learning and the chance to drive real improvements in processes and outcomes.
However, it also requires resilience. Balancing production demands with quality standards, maintaining focus under pressure, and sometimes overcoming resistance to change.
Jackie shares her methodology:
“Showing people that a new approach is a good approach and just because ‘you’ve always done it that way’ doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. Change is good.”
Encouraging teams to embrace innovation and continuous improvement is a central part of Jackie’s philosophy and an essential quality for success in QA.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in STEM
We hope Jackie’s story inspires those considering a future in STEM careers. Adaptability, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge the status quo are all traits that can make a great Quality Assurance professional.
At Ritchie, we’re proud to celebrate the journeys of our team members. Click here to read more.