Who Is An ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, CQE?
The ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, CQE is an individual who is good at knowing the principles of product and service quality evaluation and controlling them.
The work method of a CQE includes a body of knowledge and applied technologies but is not limited to those works only. The CQE also take part in
- Development and operation of quality control systems.
- Application and analysis of testing inspection procedures.
The CQE has the ability to use metrology and statistical methods to diagnose and change improper quality control methods. A CQE is an individual who understands the human factors and motivation and has familiarity with quality cost concepts and techniques. A CQE has the skills and ability to develop and administer management information systems and to audit quality systems for identifying deficiency and correct it.
Is there Any Prerequisite to Take the CQE Certification?
A candidate must have eight years of on-the-job experience in one or more areas of the Certified Quality Engineer Body of Knowledge. Among them, a minimum of three years of this experience must be in a decision-making position. Decision making is defined as the authority to execute, define, or control projects and to be responsible for the outcome. The position may or may not include management or supervisory positions. A candidate must have full-time work experience in a paid role.
What Are the Qualifications A Candidate Must-Have for the CQE Exam?
Candidates having a college, university, or technical school with accreditation accepted by ASQ degree will be part of the eight-year experience needed is waived, as follows-
- Master’s or doctorate — five years waived.
- Bachelor’s degree — four years waived.
- Associate degree — two years waived.
- Diploma from a technical or trade school — one year waived.
Summary of the CQE Exam:
The computer-delivered CQE examination is a one-part exam. The exam is a 175- multiple choice question exam and is offered in English only. Among all questions, 160 multiple choice questions are scoring, and 15 are unscored. The exam’s total engagement time is five-and-a-half-hours, but the time to take the exam is 5 hours and 18 minutes.
But the paper and pencil deliver exam is available in Portuguese, English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Korean in some places. The CQE exam is an open book exam. Each candidate must take his or her own reference materials.
The CQE exam is not an introductory level exam and is designed for individuals planning to sit for the Certified Quality Engineer exam. However, the topics are elaborated in enough detail so that the candidates with minimum knowledge of the concepts can master the topics with practice.
Every topic is presented in a practical, easy to grasp manner that converges on the practical application of the tools covered in the exam. The CQE candidates must have the chance to practice most quantitative tools during the study.
Topics Covered under the CQE Syllabus:
The CQE exam covers topics like-
- Risk Management (15 Questions)
- Quantitative Methods and Tools (36 Questions)
- Continuous Improvement (27 Questions)
- Product and Process Control (25 Questions)
- Product, Process, and Service Design (23 Questions)
- The Quality System (16 Questions)
- Management and Leadership (18 Questions)
Job Roles of A CQE:
Quality Engineers, CQE work with developers, project managers, manufacturers, and many others within each wide industry sector. The CQE works with quality assurance and quality control teams to develop methods, test methods, and implement systems that ensure the products and processes satisfy client expectations, fulfill quality standards, and meet safety regulations.
As businesses are developing and manufacturing many units and their components, the quality engineer, CQE, is involved in implementing, developing, testing, analyzing, revising, and improving how the products are manufactured. The CQE, do this through continuous process and product audits, from internal to their company, as well as at the supplier locations. The CQE also changes company and supplier training that sets an understanding of requirements and offers the tools needed to meet organizational goals, schedules, and specifications.
Quality engineers, CQE work closely with manufacturing suppliers to ensure product parts and components are made according to product specifications. When a problem or mismatch is reported, the CQE analyzes the root cause of the issue, develops and implements a plan to improve performance, and monitors and evaluates improvements. Quality engineers like CQEs keep detailed records of product and equipment inspections, root cause analyses, corrective action plans, and other reporting needs.
During the project development phase, quality engineers, CQEs help project engineers to plan a project. Their knowledge of construction and component needs allows project engineers and developers to decide whether a proposed site is acceptable or not. If quality issues exist, the CQE must recommend modified or alternate plans and estimate how various causes will affect the project deployment timeline and cost. Project engineers should be aware of any aspects of the site that would change the timeline, so information on-site needs such as where to store components or how timelines are altered due to machinery or inspection schedules, need to be accounted for.
After construction begins on a project, the quality engineer will ensure that each component’s prerequisites are met. They are liable for controlling the installation’s quality and confirming that everything has been completed to specification and in proper order. When issues arise, the quality engineer, CQE, is responsible for finding alternate solutions to keep the installation on schedule and within budget.
During the maintenance and operation phase, the quality engineer may work with technicians to identify the cause of dysfunctions, component failures, or other issues that prohibit a machine from functioning properly. The quality engineer will make sure that repairs are done properly, or they may conduct a failure analysis to check whether the flaw should have been designed for by the manufacturer. If this is the case, they will work with the manufacturer to resolve the problem.
Read Also: Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) Certification That Can Land You a Job at Ladder
Bottom Line:
ASQ’s certifications like the CQE continues to be a milestone market in one’s career. The CQE certification is based on mastery of a body of knowledge along with education and experience criteria. Some employers discount certifications given the outdated state of the body of knowledge instead of focusing on the individual’s demonstrated work prowess.
When A Certification Becomes Valuable?
If a candidate earns certification as a by-product of mastering a body of knowledge or set of courses, that is different. The ASQ CQE becomes more valuable if a candidate actually learns and uses the concepts and techniques at work. A candidate’s knowledge and expertise with ASQ BOK make his career a wage a better response in the market.
