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

• CQT Certification Requirements

• CQT Exam Body of Knowledge

• CQT Sample Questions

Certification Requirements

Education and/or Experience

You must have four years of on-the-job experience in one or more of the areas of the Certified Quality Technician Body of Knowledge.

If you are now or were previously certified by ASQ as a Quality Engineer, Quality Auditor, Reliability Engineer, Software Quality Engineer, or Quality Manager, experience used to qualify for certification in these fields applies to certification as a Quality Technician.

If you have completed a degree* from a college, university, or technical school with accreditation accepted by ASQ, part of the four-year experience requirement will be waived as follows (only one may be claimed):

• Certification through the Quality Technology program of a community college or vocational school-one year will be waived.
• Associate degree-two years waived.
• Bachelor's, master's, or doctorate-three years waived.

*Degrees/diplomas from foreign educational institutions must be equivalent to degrees from U.S. educational institutions.

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 which consists of multiple choice questions that measure comprehension of the Body of Knowledge. The Quality Technician examination is a one-part, 100 question, four-hour examination and is offered in the English language only.

Retake versions differ from original examinations. Sample examination questions are included in the Study Guide .

Examinations are conducted twice a year, in early March and October, by local ASQ sections and foreign international organizations. All examinations are open-book. Each participant must bring his or her own reference materials. Use of reference materials and calculators is explained in the seating letter provided to the applicants.

Please Note: The Body of Knowledge for certification is constantly affected by new technologies, policies, and the changing dynamics of manufacturing and service industries. Changed versions of the examination are used at each offering.

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Body of Knowledge

The following is an outline of the topics that constitute the Body of Knowledge for Quality Technicians.

Quality Technician Certification (CQT) Body of Knowledge

The topics in this Body of Knowledge include additional detail in the form of 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 what might be covered in an exam. It is meant to clarify the type of content to be included in 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 more complete description of cognitive levels is provided at the end of this document.

1. QUALITY CONCEPTS AND TOOLS (20 Questions)
   1. Quality Concepts
      1. Customers and suppliers
         Define internal and external customers, identify their expectations, and determine their satisfaction levels; define internal and external suppliers and key elements of relations with them. (Comprehension)
      2. Quality principles for products and processes
         Identify basic quality principles related to products (such as features, fitness-for-use, freedom from defects, etc.) and processes (such as monitoring, measuring, continuous improvement, etc.). (Comprehension)
      3. Quality standards, requirements, and specifications
         Define and distinguish between quality standards, requirements, and specifications. (Comprehension)
      4. Cost of quality (COQ)
         Describe the four classic cost of quality (COQ) categories and their uses. (Comprehension)
         NOTE: Specific distinctions between prevention, appraisal, internal and external failure costs will not be covered.
      5. Six sigma
         Identify key components of six sigma such as belt levels, tools, types of projects, processes used, etc. (Knowledge)
      6. Continuous improvement techniques
         Define and apply the principles of various continuous improvement techniques including the PDCA cycle, lean manufacturing, brainstorming, benchmarking, etc., to solve various quality problems. (Application)
   2. Quality Tools
      Select, construct, apply, and interpret the seven quality tools: cause and effect diagrams, flow charts (process maps), check sheets, Pareto diagrams, scatter diagrams, control charts, and histograms. (Synthesis)
   3. Team Functions
      Select and apply the basic elements of effective team function. (Application)
      1. Meeting management
         Define, describe and apply various meeting management techniques such as creating and following an agenda, recording and distributing minutes, establishing ground rules and protocols, etc. (Application)
         
      2. Team development
         Define, describe, and train team members in the basic elements of team-building, including the importance of diversity and team member participation, how to use creative-thinking tools like brainstorming, and using various tools to achieve consensus, etc. (Application)
         
      3. Team stages
         Describe the evolutionary stages of teams: forming, storming, norming, and performing. (Application)
         
      4. Globalization
         Define and describe the impact globalization has on team-related issues such as developing and participating on virtual teams, using electronic communications to support distant collaboration, etc. (Comprehension)
         

    

2. STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES (21 Questions)
   1. General Concepts
      
      1. Terminology
         Identify and differentiate between statistical terms such as population, sample, parameter, statistic, statistical process control, statistical quality control, etc. (Comprehension)
      2. Frequency distributions
         Define and compute normal, Poisson, and binomial frequency distributions. (Application)
      3. Design of experiments (DOE)
         Define and recognize the basic elements of DOE, including terms such as blocking, randomization, etc. (Knowledge)
      4. Reliability
         Define concepts such as mean time to failure (MTTF), mean time between failures (MTBF), and mean time between maintenance actions (MTBMA), and recognize failure models such as bathtub curve, prediction, growth, etc. (Knowledge)
         
   2. Calculations
      
      1. Measures of central tendency
         Define, compute, and interpret mean, median, and mode. (Application)
         
      2. Measures of dispersion
         Define, compute, and interpret standard deviation, range, and variance. (Application)
         
      3. Statistical inference
         Determine, calculate, and apply confidence levels in various situations. (Analysis)
         
      4. Confidence limits
         Determine, calculate, and apply confidence limits in various situations. (Application)
         
      5. Probability
         Calculate probability using the basic concepts of combinations, permutations, and area under the normal curve. (Application)
         
      6. Student's t
         Describe how and why t tests are used. (Comprehension)
         
      7. Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
         Define and determine the applicability of ANOVAs. (Comprehension)
         
   3. Control Charts
      
      1. Techniques and applications
         Select control charts that are appropriate for monitoring or analyzing a process and explain their construction and use. (Application)
         
      2. Control limits vs. specification limits
         Identify and describe the different uses of control limits and specification limits. (Comprehension)
         
      3. Variables charts
         Identify, select, construct, and interpret variables charts such as - R , - s, etc. (Analysis)
         
      4. Attributes charts
         Identify, select, construct, and interpret attributes charts such as p, np, c, u, etc. (Analysis)
         
      5. Rational subgroups
         Define and describe the principles of rational subgroups. (Comprehension)
         
      6. Process capability measures
         Define the prerequisites for capability, and calculate and interpret Cp, Cpk, and capability ratio (CR) in various situations. (Analysis)
         
      7. Machine capability measures
         Determine machine capability in various situations, and describe its contribution to process capability. (Application)
         
      8. PRE-control chart
         Describe the concept of PRE-control and construct and interpret PRE-control charts. (Application)
         
      9. Common and special cause variation
         Interpret various control chart patterns (runs, hugging, trends, etc.) and use rules for determining statistical control to distinguish between common cause and special cause variation. (Analysis)
         
      10. Data plotting
          Identify the advantages and limitations of using this method to analyze data visually instead of numerically. (Comprehension)
          
          
3. METROLOGY AND CALIBRATION (19 Questions)
   1. Measurement and Test Equipment (M&TE)
      Describe, select, and use the following types of tools, and evaluate their measurement results to determine conformance to specifications. (Evaluation)
      1. Hand tools (e.g., calipers, micrometers, linear scales)
         
      2. Gages (e.g., pins, thread, custom gages)
         
      3. Optical tools (e.g., comparators, profiles, microscopes)
         
      4. Coordinate measuring machines (CMM)
         
      5. Electronic measuring equipment (e.g., digital displays, output)
         
      6. Weights, balances and scales
         
      7. Hardness testing equipment (e.g., Brinell, Rockwell)
         
      8. Surface plate methods and equipment
         
      9. Surface analyzers (e.g., optical flats, roughness testers)
         
      10. Force measurement tools (e.g., torque wrenches, tensiometers)
          
      11. Angle measurement tools (e.g., protractors, sine bars, angle blocks)
          
      12. Color measurement tools (e.g., spectrophotometer, color guides, light boxes)
          
      13. Gage maintenance, handling, and storage
          
   2. Calibration
      1. Measurement and test equipment (M&TE) identification and inventory
         Describe methodologies for M&TE identification, control, and traceability to specific standards. (Application)
         
      2. Gage repeatability and reproducibility (R&R) studies
         Describe the purpose and use of gage R&R studies. (Application)
         NOTE: The components of gage R&R are covered in area IV.B.3.
         
      3. Calibration intervals
         Use M&TE usage history and gage R&R data to establish calibration intervals. (Application)
         
      4. Calibration error
         Identify the causes of calibration error (i.e., environmental influences) and its effect on processes and products. (Comprehension)
         
      5. Customer-supplied M&TE
         Describe and apply requirements for validation and control of customer-supplied equipment. (Application)
         
         
4. INSPECTION AND TEST (21 Questions)
   1. Blueprint Reading and Interpretation
      1. Blueprint symbols and components
         Interpret drawings and apply requirements in various test and inspection activities. (Analysis)
         
      2. Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) terminology
         Define and use GD&T terms covered in the ASME Y14.5M standard. (Application)
         
      3. Classification of product or component characteristics
         Define and distinguish between product defect characteristics and their classifications in terms of critical, major, minor, etc. (Analysis)
         
   2. Inspection Concepts
      1. Types of measurements
         Define and distinguish between direct, differential, and transfer measurements. (Comprehension)
         
      2. Gage selection
         Determine which measurement instrument to use in various situations based on considerations such as the characteristic to be measured, the 10:1 rule, the required accuracy level, uncertainty, etc. (Analysis)
         
      3. Gage R&R
         Define and distinguish between accuracy, precision, repeatability, reproducibility, etc., as used in measurement. (Analysis)
         NOTE: Gage R&R studies are covered in area III.B.2.
         
      4. Rounding rules
         Determine when truncation and rounding rules apply to both positive and negative numbers. (Application)
         
      5. Conversion of measurements
         Convert between metric and English units. (Application)
         
      6. Inspection points
         Define, distinguish between, and determine which inspection point functions (such as receiving, in-process, final, source, first-article, etc.) should be used at different stages of inspection and test. (Analysis)
         
      7. Inspection error
         Identify various types of inspection error including parallax, fatigue, flinching, distraction, etc. (Comprehension)
         
      8. Measurement scales
         Read and interpret measurements obtained from analog, digital, and vernier scales. (Application)
         
      9. Product traceability
         Describe the requirements for preserving the identity of a product and its origins. (Comprehension)
         
      10. Certificates of compliance (COC) and analysis (COA)
          Define and distinguish between these two types of certificates. (Comprehension)
          
   3. Inspection Techniques and Processes
      1. Nondestructive testing (NDT) techniques
         Identify various NDT techniques ( X-ray, eddy current, ultrasonic, dye penetrant, electromagnetic, magnetic particle) for specific applications. (Comprehension)
         
      2. Destructive testing techniques
         Identify various destructive tests (tensile, fatigue, flammability) for specific applications. (Comprehension)
         
      3. Other testing techniques
         Identify characteristics of testing techniques such as those used for electrical measurement (DC, AC, resistance, capacitance, etc.), chemical analysis (pH, conductivity, chromatography, etc.), physical/mechanical measurement (pressure tests, vacuum, flow, etc.), and software testing/verification (safeguarding, functional checks, comparison of test results, identification of attributes and parameters, etc.). (Knowledge)
         
   4. Sampling
      1. Characteristics
         Identify and define sampling characteristics such as operating characteristic (OC) curve, lot size, sample size, acceptance number, switching rules, etc. (Comprehension)
         
      2. Sampling types
         Define and distinguish between fixed sampling, 100% inspection, attributes and variables sampling, etc. (Comprehension)
         
      3. Selecting samples from lots
         Determine sample size (e.g., AQL), selection method, and accept/reject criteria (e.g., zero-defect sampling) in various situations. (Application)
         

       

5. QUALITY AUDITS (9 Questions)
   1. Audit types
      Define basic audit types such as internal, external, system, product, process, etc. (Comprehension)
      
   2. Audit Components
      Describe and apply various elements of the audit process, including audit preparation, performance, record keeping, closure, and verification. (Application)
      
   3. Tools and techniques
      Define and apply various auditing tools such as checklists, record/document review, forward- and backward-tracing, etc., and identify and use interview techniques appropriate to various situations. (Application)
      
      
6. PREVENTIVE AND CORRECTIVE ACTION (10 Questions)
   1. Preventive action
      Identify and apply various preventive methods including both design and process failure mode and effects analysis (DFMEA and PFEMA), mistake-proofing, etc., for products and processes. (Application)
      
   2. Corrective action
      1. Elements of corrective action
         Describe various steps to ensure corrective action, including interim action, permanent action, verification, etc. (Comprehension)
         
      2. Failure analysis and root cause analysis
         Describe how and when these analyses are conducted. (Comprehension)
         
   3. Nonconforming material
      1. Identifying and segregating
         Determine whether products or material meet conformance requirements, and use various methods to label and segregate nonconforming materials. (Application)
         
      2. Material review process
         Describe various elements of this process, including the function of the material review board (MRB), the steps in determining fitness-for-use and product disposition, etc. (Comprehension)
         

Math Note: Approximately 20% of the questions in each CQT exam will require calculation.

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.) 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 seen before; identify which data or information from a complex set is appropriate to examine further or from which supported conclusions can be drawn.

Evaluation
Being 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

Quality Technician Certification (CQT) Study Guide

1. At what stage of the problem-solving process would a team most likely use a cause-effect diagram?
   1. Description of the process associated with the problem
   2. Definition of the problem and its scope
   3. Organization of possible problem causes
   4. Collection of data to identify actual causes
      
      
2. Which of the following test methods would not be effective in detecting surface cracks and seams in a relatively smooth-surfaced steel forging?
   1. Magnetic particle
   2. Radiography and liquid penetrant
   3. Pulse-echo ultrasonics and acoustic emission
   4. Eddy current
      
      
3. Statistical validity implies that
   1. meaningful conclusions can be drawn from the data.
   2. there is a mathematical derivation behind the technique used.
   3. ANSI/ASQC Z1.4-1993 must be used.
   4. the sample was obtained in a random manner.
      
      
4. Steel bars are cut to cylindrical shafts by means of a lathe. The diameter and allowable tolerance of the shaft is 2.000 ± .001 inch. A control chart is used to monitor the quality level of the process. Which of the following plots on the control chart might indicate a problem of wear on the lathe?
   1. The diameter of a single shaft above 2.001 inch
   2. The diameter of a single shaft below 1.999 inch
   3. An apparent increasing trend in the shaft diameters
   4. Erratic in-tolerance or out-of-tolerance diameter measurements
      
      
5. When part dimensions are being measured, all of the following are characteristics of coordinate measuring machines (CMM) EXCEPT that all CMMs have the
   1. same configuration and mode of operation.
   2. ability to measure different features of a part in one setup.
   3. provision of digital readout and automatic data logging.
   4. ability to take all measurements from one geometrically fixed measurement system.
      
      
6. To check that a micrometer is capable of providing accurate measurements of a part dimension, a technician would use a
   1. gage block
   2. dial indicator
   3. vernier caliper
   4. control sample
      
      
7. If a shaft with a diameter of 0.500 ± .002 inches is supposed to fit inside a hole, and there is only 0.001 inch clearance between them at maximum material condition (MMC), the MMC of the hole should be:
   1. 0.498 inch
   2. 0.500 inch
   3. 0.502 inch
   4. 0.503 inch
      
      
8. In deciding whether sampling inspection of a part would be more economical than conducting 100% inspection, a technician needs to determine all of the following EXCEPT the cost of
   1. inspecting parts
   2. destructive testing
   3. finding no defective parts
   4. improving the production process
      
      
9. A sample consists of one or more units of product drawn from a lot or batch on the basis of
   1. defect of the product
   2. random selection
   3. size of the product
   4. when the inspection process was completed
      
      
10. A classification of defects is a list of possible product defects that are classified according to:
    1. acceptability
    2. seriousness
    3. quantity
    4. size
       
       
11. Process control audits are used to
    1. assist in determining process capability.
    2. replace thorough systems and procedures audits.
    3. replace thorough in-line product audits.
    4. ensure that some minimal auditing is conducted on a product.
       
       
12. Special process studies that involve investigation and tests are used to do which of the following?
    1. Locate the causes of nonconforming products
    2. Determine the possibility of improving quality characteristics
    3. Ensure that improvement and corrective actions are permanent and complete
    4. Increase production throughput
       1. I and IV only
       2. II and III only
       3. I, II, and III only
       4. II, III, and IV only
          
          
13. Customer complaint data can reveal which of the following?
    1. That a low complaint rate is not proof of customer satisfaction
    2. That a high complaint rate is proof of customer dissatisfaction
    3. Conclusive measures of product/service performance
       1. I and II only
       2. I and III only
       3. II and III only
       4. I, II, and III
          

    Answers
    1. c	2. c	3. a	4. c	5. a	6. a	7. d
    8. d	9. b	10. b	11. a	12. c	13. a

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