The following information is provided by the American Society for Quality (ASQ):

• CQIA Certification Requirements

• CQIA Exam Body of Knowledge

• CQIA Sample Questions

Certification Requirements

Education and/or Experience

You must have two years of work experience or an associate degree as a minimum.

Proof of Professionalism

Proof of professionalism may be demonstrated in one of three ways:

1. Membership in ASQ, a foreign affiliate society of ASQ, or another society that is a member of the American Association of Engineering Societies or the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
2. Registration as a Professional Engineer
3. The signatures of two persons-ASQ members, members of a foreign affiliate society, or members of another recognized professional society-verifying that you are a qualified practitioner of the quality sciences

Examination

Each certification candidate is required to pass a written examination that consists of multiple-choice questions that measure comprehension of the Body of Knowledge. The CQIA examination is a one-part, 100-question, three-hour exam and is offered in the English language only.

The Application Process

How do I apply for certification?

Complete and submit to ASQ headquarters along with supporting documentation for all qualifying work history (resume, job description, etc.) and the correct fee.

Applications must be submitted on or before the deadline date.

What if my application isn't approved?

If you do not meet the minimum work or education experience, you may obtain a partial refund of the application fee by contacting the Certification Department at ASQ headquarters. ASQ will not waive the examination requirements. $50.00 of your fee is an application fee and is not refundable.

Once the exam has been held, or you have taken the examination, no refunds will be given. Approval of a certification application guarantees only the right to take the examination and does not guarantee certification.

Where may I take the exam?

Examinations are conducted twice a year, June and December. Examination sites are hosted by local ASQ sections and by international organizations (contact the ASQ Certification Department for international locations). You will be notified approximately two weeks before the examination date of your assigned testing location. Please allow extra time for international mail.

The Exam

How do I prepare for the exam?

Preparation time for the exam is dependent upon your level of experience. Review the Body of Knowledge to focus your studies on the areas in which you need the most review.

What is the content of the examination?

The Body of Knowledge lists the subject areas from which the examination questions are drawn. Keep in mind that any single examination represents only a sample of the Body of Knowledge and will not cover all the topics listed.

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Body of Knowledge

The topics in this Body of Knowledge include subtext explanations and the cognitive level at which the questions will be written. This information will provide useful guidance for both the Exam Development Committee and the candidate preparing to take the exam. The subtext is not intended to limit the subject matter or be all-inclusive of that material that will be covered in the exam. It is meant to clarify the type of content that will be included on the exam. The descriptor in parentheses at the end of each entry refers to the maximum cognitive level at which the topic will be tested. A complete description of cognitive levels is provided at the end of this document. 

1. Quality Basics (27 Questions)
   1. Terms, Concepts, and Principles
      1. Quality
         Define and know how to use this term correctly. (Application)
      2. Systems and processes
         Define a system and a process; distinguish between a system and a process; understand the interrelationship between process and system; and know how the components of a system (input/output, process, and feedback) impact the system as a whole. (Analysis)
      3. The importance of employees
         Understand employee involvement and employee empowerment, and understand the benefits of both concepts; distinguish between involvement and empowerment. (Comprehension)
      4. Quality planning
         Define a quality plan; understand its purpose for the organization as a whole and who in the organization contributes to its development. (Comprehension)
      5. Variation
         Understand variation and common and special causes. (Comprehension)
   2. Benefits of Quality
      Understand how each stakeholder (e.g., employees, organization, customers, suppliers, and community) benefits from quality and how the benefits differ for each type of stakeholder. (Comprehension)
   3. Quality Philosophies
      
      1. Deming (14 points)
      2. Juran (Trilogy)
      3. Crosby (Zero defects)

      Understand each of these philosophies, know how they differ from one another, and know how to apply each philosophy. (Application)

2. Teams (23 Questions)
   1. Types of Teams
      
      1. Improvement teams
      2. Cross-functional teams
      3. Project teams
      4. Self-directed teams

      Recognize each type of team and how it is structured; know how teams differ and how they are similar; know which type of team to use in a given situation; know the value of using each type of team. (Evaluation)

   2. Roles and Responsibilities
      Identify major team roles and the attributes of good role performance for champions, sponsors, leaders, facilitators, timekeepers, and members. (Comprehension)
   3. Team Formation and Group Dynamics
      1. Initiating teams
         Know the elements of launching a team and why they are important: clear purpose, goals, commitment, ground rules, schedules, support from management, and team empowerment. (Application)
      2. Selecting team members
         Know how to select team members who have appropriate skills sets (e.g., number of members, expertise, and representation). (Application)
      3. Group-think
         Define and recognize group-think and understand how to overcome it. (Application)
      4. Team stages
         Describe the classic stages of team evolution (forming, storming, norming, and performing); understand the value of conflict; know how to resolve team conflict. (Application)
3. Continuous Improvement (50 Questions)
   1. Incremental and Breakthrough Improvement
      Understand how process improvement can identify waste and non-value-added activities. Understand how both incremental and breakthrough improvement processes achieve results. Know the steps required for both types of improvement. Recognize which type of improvement approach should be used in specific situations. Know the similarities and differences between the two approaches. (Application)
   2. Improvement Cycles
      Define various improvement cycle phases (e.g., PDCA, PDSA) and use them appropriately. (Application)
   3. Quality Improvement Tools
      Use, interpret, and explain flowcharts, histograms, Pareto charts, scatter diagrams, cause-and-effect diagrams, checklists (check sheets), affinity diagrams, cost of quality, benchmarking, brainstorming, and audits as improvement tools. Understand control chart concepts (e.g., centerlines, control limits, out-of-control conditions), and recognize when control charts should be used. (Comprehension)
   4. Customer-Supplier Relationships
      1. Internal and external customers
         Know how customers are defined. Know how to work with customers effectively to improve process and services. Know how an organization's internal customers influence organizational processes. Know how to distinguish between different external customer types (consumers and end-users). (Comprehension)
      2. Customer feedback
         Know the different types of customer feedback (e.g., surveys, complaints) and understand the value in using the data to drive continuous improvement activities. (Comprehension)
      3. Internal and external suppliers
         Understand the value in communicating stated expectations and the consequences of supplier performance. (Comprehension)
      4. Supplier feedback
         Know the different types of supplier feedback (e.g., surveys, complaints, ratings) and understand the value in using the data to drive continuous improvement activities. (Comprehension)

Six Levels of Cognition
based on Bloom's Taxonomy (1956)

In addition to content specifics, the subtext detail also indicates the intended complexity level of the test questions for that topic. These levels are based on "Levels of Cognition" (from Bloom's Taxonomy, 1956) and are presented below in rank order, from least complex to most complex.

Knowledge Level
(Also commonly referred to as recognition, recall, or rote knowledge.) Being able to remember or recognize terminology, definitions, facts, ideas, materials, patterns, sequences, methodologies, principles, etc.

Comprehension Level
Being able to read and understand descriptions, communications, reports, tables, diagrams, directions, regulations, etc.

Application Level
Being able to apply ideas, procedures, methods, formulas, principles, theories, etc. in job-related situations.

Analysis
Being able to break down information into its constituent parts and recognize the parts' relationship to one another and how they are organized; identify sublevel factors or salient data from a complex scenario.

Synthesis
Being able to put parts or elements together in such a way as to show a pattern or structure not clearly there before; identify which data or information from a complex set are appropriate to examine further or from which supported conclusions can be drawn.

Evaluation
Able to make judgments regarding the value of proposed ideas, solutions, methodologies, etc., by using appropriate criteria or standards to estimate accuracy, effectiveness, economic benefits, etc.

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Sample Questions

1. The most important component of a self-directed team is that it

a. is able to make decisions regarding job tasks

b. is made up of a large employee base

c. requires testing

d. reports to upper management

2. In which of the following diagrams does the input variable X have the highest positive correlation with the output variable Y?

3. If a histogram has a distribution that is bimodal this indicates that the

a. process is in control

b. distribution is abnormal

c. data collected is accurate

d. data has two points

 

4. Which of the following is NOT a valid indicator of breakthrough improvement?

a. Information development

b. Recognizing the vital few

c. Incremental change

d. Attitude shift

5. Rank order, from first to last, the following steps in a benchmarking process

1. Measure the difference between the in-house process and world class process.

2. Decide what products or processes to benchmark.

3. Define the types of products or processes to evaluate against.

4. Gather and examine the information.

a. 2, 3, 4, 1

b. 3, 1, 2, 4

c. 3, 2, 1, 4

d. 4, 1, 2, 3

 

6. The person who celebrates accomplishments with the team, compensates the team's efforts, and communicates with management is the team

a. coach

b. leader

c. facilitator

d. time keeper

7. A team experiencing the storming stage is typically characterized by which of the following?

a. Acceptance of membership in the team

b. Satisfaction with the progress made by the team

c. Ability to express constructive criticism

d. Rapid changes with regard to attitude within the team

 

8. Which of the following is NOT a common reasons for the collapse of the relationship between customer and supplier?

a. Lack of communication between the two companies

b. Turnover of vital personnel in either company

c. Unclear customer requirements

d. Inadequate supply of quality manuals in either company

 

9. Which of the following best describes how an affinity diagram is used?

a. Grasping organizational performance relative to contrasting data

b. Prioritizing data from most significant to least significant

c. Grouping ideas that are created during brainstorming

d. Identifying when a process is in control

 

10. Warranty claims are classified in which of the following cost of quality groups?

a. Internal failure

b. External failure

c. Appraisal

d. Prevention

 

Key

1. a

2  a

3. d

4. c

5. a

6. b

7. d

8. d

9. c

10. b

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