American Society for Quality (ASQ), formerly known as American Society for Quality Control (ASQC), is a knowledge-based global community of quality control experts, with nearly 85,000 members dedicated to the promotion and advancement of quality tools, principles, and practices in their workplaces and in their communities.
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Established in 1946 and based in Milwaukee, ASQ traces its beginnings to the end of World War II, as quality experts and manufacturers sought ways to sustain the many quality-improvement techniques used during wartime. ASQ has played an important role in upholding these standards from the past while championing continued innovation in the field of quality.
In the 1980s, ASQ members began to see how quality could be applied beyond the world of manufacturing. Quality, they realized, could make a difference in any organization and touch every person in it. Because of this, the idea of quality began to morph into a much broader discipline aimed at leading, inspiring, and managing a broad range of businesses and activities, with a focus on excellence.
ASQ supports its members by providing a wide range of resources, from certification and training to publications and conferences. Globally, ASQ has formed relationships with nonprofit organizations that have comparable missions and principles, forming collaborative efforts to meet the quality needs of companies, individuals, and organizations worldwide.
The Society serves as an advocate for quality. Its members have informed and advised the U.S. Congress, government agencies, state legislatures, and other groups and individuals on quality-related topics. Since 1991, ASQ has administered the United States’ premier quality award, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which annually recognizes companies and organizations that have achieved performance excellence. The ASQ Dorian Shainin Medal is awarded annually for the Development and Application of Creative or Unique Statistical Approaches in the Solving of Problems Relative to the Quality of Product or Service.[1] ASQ is a founding partner of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), a prominent quarterly economic indicator.
The ASQ offers a variety of professional certifications relating to various aspects of the quality profession. Tests are given nationally and, to a limited degree, worldwide several times per year. The body of knowledge for each certification is maintained through peer review every few years on a rotating schedule. The first ASQ certification was offered in 1968.[2]
All certifications listed are from this reference[2] unless noted.
| Year created | Certification | ASQ initials | Covers | Comments | Other reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Engineer | CQE | Principle of product and service, quality evaluation, and control. | [3] | |
| 1970 | Technician | CQT | Quality problem, analysis, inspection sampling plans and statistical process control applications. | [4] | |
| 1972 | Reliability Engineer | CRE | Principles of performance evaluation for product and system safety, reliability, and maintainability. | [5] | |
| 1984 | Inspector | CQI | Hardware documentation, lab, and calibration procedures, inspection, process performance, data collection, and reports. | Initially known as mechanical inspector. | [6] |
| 1987 | Auditor | CQA | Standards and principles of auditing, questions, evaluations and reports for quality system adequacy. | [7] | |
| 1995 | Manager | CMQ/OE (CQM: 1995-2005) | Champions process improvement initiatives and supports strategic planning and deployment initiatives. | Changed to Certified Manager of Quality/ Organizational Excellence in 2006 to reflect the broader scope of the quality manager's position. | [8] |
| 1996 | Software Quality Engineer | CSQE | Development of software processes, measurement, verification, and validation, analytical methods, and quality management. | [9] | |
| 1996 | CQA-HACCP | CHA since 2004 | Developed to test applicants knowledge of the HACCP standards. | Changed to Certified HACCP Auditor in 2004. | [10] |
| 2000 | Improvement Associate | CQIA | Designed to test basic knowledge of quality tools and their uses, along with involvement in quality improvement projects. | [11] | |
| 2001 | Six Sigma Black Belt | CSSBB | To demonstrate competency in Six Sigma methods. | [12] | |
| 2002 | CQA-biomedical | CBA since 2005. | Understands principles of standards, regulations, directives, and guidance for auditing a biomedical system. | Changed to Certified Biomedical Auditor in 2005. | [13] |
| 2003 | Calibration Technician | CCT | Tests, maintains, and repairs electrical, mechanical, electromechanical, analytical, and electronic measuring/ recording equipment for conformance to established standards. | [14] | |
| 2005 | Process Analyst | CQPA | Paraprofessional who analyzes and solves quality problems and is quality improvement projects. | [15] | |
| 2006 | Six Sigma Green Belt | CSSGB | Paraprofessional who works with process development and documentation, collects, and summarizes data, and creates, and intreprets multivar studies. | [16] | |
| 2009 | Pharmaceutical good manufacturing practices professional certification | CPGP | Tests applicant knowledge of principles as regulated and guided by national and international agencies. | [17] | |
| 2010 | Master Black Belt | CMBB | To demonstrate master competency in six sigma methodology. | [18] |
In a 2008 press release for the 40th anniversary of ASQ's certifications, the three most popular were the engineer (CQE), followed closely by the auditor (CQA) and the Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB).
ASQ has 25 divisions on various aspects involving quality-related issues. These divisions cover specific disciplines involving quality of specific field that have members who are in quality assurance or quality control.