Final answer:
The false statement about the quality assurance manager is that they always report directly to the CEO, as this can vary between organizations. They are essential to a firm's TQM initiatives, meeting quality standards, and eliminating defects.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that is false about the quality assurance manager is that they always report directly to the CEO of the company. Quality assurance managers play an important role in a company's adherence to quality, but their specific reporting structure can vary depending on the organization's size, structure, and policies.
Quality assurance managers are an integral part of a firm's TQM (Total Quality Management) strategic initiatives, focusing on ensuring that preestablished quality standards are met and responsible for the elimination of product defects. However, they may report to various levels within a company, and not necessarily always to the CEO.
Moreover, to evaluate the quality of a design, various methods are used, such as peer reviews, testing of prototypes, and analyzing engineer focus on product attributes. While the responsibility to understand and be held accountable for certain processes and outcomes is part of a quality assurance manager's job, it is crucial to know that they work within a framework of procedures dictated often by quality standards like ISO and industry-specific regulations.