Certified Quality Engineer Body of Knowledge

I. General Knowledge, Conduct and Ethics (15 questions)

A. General Knowledge and Skills

1. Benefits of quality

2. Domestic or international standards and

specifications

3. Quality philosophies (e.g., Juran, Deming, Taguchi, Ishikawa)

4. Communication and presentation skills

5. Interpretation of diagrams, schematics, drawings or blueprints

6. Project management skills

B. Professional Conduct and Ethics

1. ASQC Code of Ethics

2. Typical conflict of interest situations for a quality

engineer

II. Quality Practices and Applications (55 questions)

A. Human Resource Management

1. Motivation theories and principles

2. Barriers to the implementation or success of

quality improvement efforts

3. Organization and implementation of various types of quality teams

4. Principles of team leadership and facilitation

5. Team dynamics management, including conflict

resolution

B. Quality Planning

1. Preproduction or preservice planning process

2. Process qualification and validation methods

3. Involvement of customer and supplier in the

planning process

4. Data collection and review of customer expectations, needs, requirements and specifications

5. Procedures for design review and qualification

C. Quality Systems

1. Elements of a quality system

2. Scope and objectives of quality information

systems

3. Techniques for ensuring data accuracy and

integrity

4. Management systems for improving quality

(e.g., policy deployment, continuous improvement strategies)

5. Quality documentation systems

6. Problem identification, analysis, reporting and

corrective action system

D. Supplier Management

1. Methodologies

2. Supplier performance evaluation and rating

systems

3. Supplier qualification or certification systems

E. Quality Audit

1. Types of quality audits

2. Auditor and auditee responsibilities

3. Quality audit planning and preparation

4. Steps in conducting an audit

5. Audit reporting process

6. Post-audit activities (e.g., corrective action,

verification)

F. Cost of Quality

1. Categories

a. Prevention

b. Appraisal

c. Internal failure

d. External failure

2. Data collection, interpretation and reporting

G.  Continuous Improvement Tools

1. Quality tools

a. Pareto charts

b. Cause-and-effect diagrams

c. Flowcharts

d. Control charts

e. Check sheets

f. Scatter diagrams

g. Histograms

2. Management tools

a. Affinity diagrams

b. Tree diagrams

c. Process decision program charts (PDPC)

d. Matrix diagrams

e. Interrelationship digraphs

f. Prioritization matrixes

g. Activity network diagrams

III. Statistical Principles and Applications (40 questions)

A. Terms and Concepts

1. Definitions of basic statistical terms

2. Enumerative and analytical studies

3. Levels of measurement (e.g., nominal, ordinal,

interval, ration)

4. Descriptive statistics (e.g., measures of central

tendency and variation, histograms, scatter

diagrams, exploratory data analysis)

5. Inferential statistics (e.g., ANOVA, t-tests)

6. Basic probability concepts (e.g., independence, mutually exclusive)

7. Central limit theorem

8. Theoretical expected value (e.g., mu, E(x)

9. Assumptions and robustness of tests

B. Distributions

1. Frequency and cumulative

2. Sampling

3. Probability density functions

4. Binomial, Poisson, normal, exponential

5. Chi-square, student's t and F

C. Statistical Inference

1. Point and interval estimation

2. Tolerance and confidence intervals, significance level

3. Hypothesis testing/Type I and Type II errors

D. Correlation and Regression Analysis

1. Linear models

2. Least-squares fit

3. Correlation and regression statistics (e.g., R, R2, standard error of the estimate)

4. Time series analysis

a. Run charts

b. Trend analysis

5. Pattern analysis

E. Experimental Design

1. Terminology (e.g., independent and dependent variable, factors, levels, treatment, error,

randomization, confounding, replication)

2. Power and sample size

3. Design characteristics (e.g., balance, replication, efficiency, fit)

4. Types of designs

a. One-factor

b. Full and fractional factorial

5. Taguchi robustness concepts

F. Acceptance Sampling

1. Definitions (e.g., AQL, LTPD, AOQ, AOQL)

2. General theory (e.g., operating characteristics curve, producer and consumer risks)

3. Sampling types (e.g., single, double, multiple,

sequential)

4. Sampling plans

a. ANSI/ASQC Z1.4, MIL-STD-105

b. ANSI/ASQC Z1.9, MIL-STD-414

c. Dodge-Romig

IV. Product, Process and Materials Control (30 questions)

A. Work Instructions

B. Classification of Characteristics and Defects

C. Identification of Materials and Status

D. Lot Traceability

E. Materials Segregation Practices

F. Materials Review Board Criteria and Procedures

G. Sample Integrity and Control

H. Statistical Process Control

1. Basics

a. Terms and concepts

b. Objectives and benefits

c. Common and special causes of variation

2. Types of control charts

a. Variable charts, including R, X, s, individual,

moving range and moving average charts

b. Attribute charts, including p, np, c and u charts

3. Implementation

a. Variable selection

b. Control chart selection

c. Rational subgroup sampling

d. Control charts interpretation

e. Rules for determining statistical control

f. Tampering effects and diagnosis

4. Process capability studies and indexes (Cp, Cpk, Cpm)

V. Measurement Systems (10 questions)

A. Terms and Definitions (e.g., precision, accuracy, bias, reproducibility)

B. Metrology

1. Traceability to standards

2. Measurement error

3. Calibration systems

4. Control of standard integrity

C. Repeatability and Reproducibility Studies

D. Destructive and Nondestructive Testing Concepts

VI. Safety and Reliability (10 questions)

A. Terms and Definitions

B. Types of Reliability Systems

1. Series

2. Parallel

3. Redundant

C. Reliability Life Characteristic Concepts

(e.g., "bathtub" curve)

D. Risk Assessment Tools (e.g., FMECA, FMEA, FTA)

and Risk Prevention

E. Product Traceability Systems and Recall Procedures