As Pro QC marks its 40th anniversary, we are excited to spotlight the dedicated individuals who have played a key role in our success. One such person is Candace, who has been with Pro QC for over 20 years. In this interview, Candace shares her journey, offers insights into the quality control industry, and provides advice for those new to Pro QC as well as companies looking to improve their quality management. Join us as we explore her experiences and celebrate our shared achievements. INTERVIEW 1. Can you start by telling us about your journey with Pro QC? How did it begin? I began my journey with Pro QC in 2003, right after graduating from college—21 years ago now. Our office was located in a beautiful three-story villa, and I had the opportunity to work alongside colleagues from multiple countries. My manager at the time was (Chief of Staff Engineer) Mr. Ron Brodeur from the United States, who possessed exceptional technical skills. He was like an oracle to us, and he became my first mentor at Pro QC. He taught me a lot, including product inspection methods and factory audit procedures. 2. What was your initial role at the company, and how has it evolved over the years? I started as a Project Coordinator. However, at that time, the role of a Project Coordinator also encompassed some responsibilities typically associated with a Technical Manager. This was because our Technical Managers frequently visited factories to train our Quality Engineers, perform factory audits, and oversee quality tasks for key clients. Over the past 20 years, I’ve held various positions, including Project Coordinator, Office Business Manager, China Admin Manager, China Operations Manager, and today, I serve as the Regional Director for East Asia. 3. How has Pro QC changed since you first started? The changes at Pro QC have been immense. When I first joined, we had only our Shenzhen office in China. Today, we have three offices in mainland China—Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Ningbo—and our team has grown to nearly ten times its original size. Over the past 20 years, we’ve focused on expanding our global presence and establishing offices in Southeast Asia, the United States, Europe, and more. Today, we operate out of 19 offices worldwide. 4. What are some of the most significant developments in the industry you’ve witnessed during your time here? Throughout my time here, I’ve seen several of our clients grow significantly, expanding from offering a single product model to a diversified range of multifunctional products. They’ve also expanded from domestic to international sales, especially in industries like consumer appliances, communication products, textiles, jewelry, outdoor sports and camping equipment, hardware, and mechanical products. For example, everyone is familiar with air fryers today, but five or six years ago, only a few suppliers were manufacturing them. One of our U.S. clients developed the air fryer and collaborated with various factories in China. Pro QC has been the inspection company overseeing the production of hundreds of millions of air fryers, conducting everything from first article inspections to pre-shipment inspections, and we continue to do so today. 5. What has been your most memorable project or challenge at Pro QC? One of my most memorable projects involved performance testing power juicers. We purchased tons of apples and carrots and kept the machines running every two hours, stopping only to verify the blade and other functions. We tested different models, and this project lasted several months, with ongoing updates as new models were developed. It was quite interesting and fun—everyone in the office enjoyed limitless fresh juice every day! 6. Where do you see Pro QC in the next 10 years? I am very confident about the future of Pro QC. Quality is the core of any product, and quality management is fundamental to the long-term success of any industry. With Pro QC’s global footprint, we are well-positioned to assist more companies with their quality. We, as Pro QC, will never stop progressing and striving for excellence. 7. What advice would you give to someone just starting their career at Pro QC? Pro QC’s core values—Excellence, Trustworthiness, and Passion—are key. Excellence: Always demonstrate your professionalism to clients; their satisfaction should be your top priority. Trustworthiness: Hold yourself to the highest standards, maintain strong ethics, and earn the trust of clients. Passion: Stay focused on your tasks, think critically, and feel empowered to communicate your ideas. 8. Based on your extensive experience, what is your best advice for companies looking to enhance their quality control and assurance practices? To produce high-quality products, it is essential to establish a comprehensive quality management system. This system should include quality manuals, policies, procedures, work instructions, and records. Continuous improvement is key, so regularly checking, verifying, and performing internal audits are crucial. 9. How do you feel about celebrating 20 years with Pro QC? What does this milestone mean to you? I am incredibly happy and proud to have been with Pro QC for over 20 years. I really appreciate our respectful, efficient communication and progressive corporate culture. Even though Pro QC is celebrating 40 years, I believe we are still young and energetic, with the potential for 100 years of continued excellence.
