THE ASQ CERTIFIED

CQE

QUALITY ENGINEER

Quality excellence to enhance your career

and boost your organization’s bottom line
asq.org/cert
 Certification from ASQ is considered a mark of
quality excellence in many industries. It helps you
advance your career and boosts your organization’s
bottom line through your mastery of quality skills.
Becoming certified as a Quality Engineer confirms
your commitment to quality and the positive impact
it will have on your organization.

Examination
Each certification candidate
is required to pass an
examination that consists of
multiple-choice questions that
measure comprehension of
the body of knowledge.

2 Certified Quality Engineer

 INFORMATION
The ASQ Certified Quality Engineer
The Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) is a professional who understands the
principles of product and service quality evaluation and control. This body of
knowledge and applied technologies include, but are not limited to, development
and operation of quality control systems, application and analysis of testing
and inspection procedures, the ability to use metrology and statistical methods
to diagnose and correct improper quality control practices, an understanding of
human factors and motivation, familiarity with quality cost concepts and techniques,
and the knowledge and ability to develop and administer management information
systems and to audit quality systems for deficiency identification and correction.

CQE
Computer Delivered - The CQE Paper and Pencil – The CQE
examination is a one-part, multiple examination is a one-part,
choice 175-question exam and is 160-question, five-hour exam
offered in English only. 160 multiple and is offered in English. Exams are
choice questions are scored and 15 also offered in Korean, Mandarin,
are unscored. Total appointment time Portuguese, and Spanish in certain
is five-and-a-half hours, exam time locations.
is 5 hours and 18 minutes.

For comprehensive exam information on the Quality Engineer certification,

visit asq.org/cert.
Certified Quality Engineer 3
 Education
and/or Experience
You must have eight years of on-the- Work experience must be in a
job experience in one or more of the full-time, paid role. Paid intern,
areas of the Certified Quality Engineer co-op, or any other course work
Body of Knowledge. cannot be applied toward the work
experience requirement.
A minimum of three years of
this experience must be in a If you were ever certified by ASQ as:
decision-making position. “Decision
• Quality Auditor (CQA)
making” is defined as the authority
to define, execute, or control projects/ • Reliability Engineer (CRE)
processes and to be responsible for the • Software Quality Engineer (CSQE)
outcome. This may or may not include
management or supervisory positions. • Manager of Quality/Organizational
Excellence (CMQ/OE)

4 Certified Quality Engineer

 • Supplier Quality Professional (CSQP) • Associate’s degree–
two years waived.
Experience used to qualify for certification
in these fields applies to certification as a • Bachelor’s degree–
Quality Engineer (CQE). four years waived.
If you have completed a degree* from • Master’s or doctorate–
a college, university, or technical school five years waived
with accreditation accepted by ASQ, part
*Degrees or diplomas from
of the eight-year experience requirement
educational institutions outside
will be waived, as follows (only one of
the United States must be
these waivers may be claimed):
equivalent to degrees from
• Diploma from a technical or trade U.S. educational institutions.
school–one year will be waived.

Certified Quality Engineer 5

 BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
The ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
Topics in this body of knowledge (BoK) 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.

I. Management and a. Benchmarking

Define the concept of
Leadership (18 Questions) benchmarking and why it
A. Quality Philosophies may be used. (Remember)
and Foundations b. Stakeholder
Describe continuous improvement tools, Define, describe, and use
including lean, Six Sigma, theory of stakeholder identification
constraints, statistical process control and analysis. (Apply)
(SPC), and total quality management,
and understand how modern quality c. Performance
has evolved from quality control
Define, describe, and use
through statistical process control
performance measurement
(SPC) to total quality management
tools. (Apply)
and leadership principles (including
Deming’s 14 points). (Understand) d. Project management
Define, describe, and use project
B. The Quality Management management tools, including
System (QMS) PERT charts, Gantt charts,
1. Strategic planning critical path method (CPM),
and resource allocation. (Apply)
Identify and define top
management’s responsibility for 3. Quality information system (QIS)
the QMS, including establishing
policies and objectives, setting Identify and describe the basic
organization-wide goals, and elements of a QIS, including who
supporting quality initiatives. (Apply) will contribute data, the kind of
data to be managed, who will
2. Deployment techniques have access to the data, the level
of flexibility for future information
Define, describe, and use various
needs, and data analysis.
deployment tools in support of the
(Understand)
QMS such as:

6 Certified Quality Engineer

C. ASQ Code of Ethics I. Barriers to Quality Improvement
for Professional Conduct Identify barriers to quality improvement,
Determine appropriate behavior in analyze their causes and impact, and
situations requiring ethical decisions. implement methods for improvement.
(Evaluate) (Analyze)

D. Leadership Principles II. The Quality System

and Techniques (16 Questions)
Analyze various principles and
techniques for developing and A. Elements of the Quality System
organizing teams and leading 1. Basic elements
quality initiatives. (Analyze)
Interpret the basic elements of a
quality system, including planning,
E. Facilitation Principles control, and improvement, from
and Techniques product and process design
1. Roles and responsibilities through quality cost systems
and audit programs. (Evaluate)
Describe the facilitator’s roles
and responsibilities on a team. 2. Design
(Understand)
Analyze the design and alignment
2. Facilitation tools of interrelated processes to the
strategic plan and core processes.
Apply various tools used with
(Analyze)
teams, including brainstorming,
nominal group technique, conflict
resolution, and force-field analysis. B. Documentation of
(Apply) the Quality System
1. Document components
F. Communication Skills Identify and describe quality
Identify specific communication system documentation components,
methods that are used for delivering including quality policies and
information and messages in a variety procedures to support the system.
of situations across all levels of the (Understand)
organization. (Analyze)
2. Document control
G. Customer Relations Evaluate configuration management,
Define, apply, and analyze the results maintenance, and document control
of customer relation tools such as to manage work instructions and
quality function deployment (QFD) and quality records. (Evaluate)
customer satisfaction surveys. (Analyze)
C. Quality Standards
H. Supplier Management and Other Guidelines
1. Techniques Apply national and international
Apply various supplier management standards and other requirements
techniques, including supplier and guidelines, including the Malcolm
qualification, certification, and Baldrige National Quality Award
evaluation. (Apply) (MBNQA), and describe key points
of the ISO 9000 series of standards.
2. Improvement (Note: Industry-specific standards will
Analyze supplier ratings and not be tested.) (Apply)
performance improvement results.
(Analyze)

3. Risk
Understand business continuity,
resiliency, and contingency
planning. (Understand)

Certified Quality Engineer 7

 D. Quality Audits B. Design Inputs and Review
1. Types of audits 1. Inputs
Describe and distinguish between Translate design inputs such
various types of quality audits such as customer needs, regulatory
as product, process, management requirements, and risk assessment
(system), registration (certification), into robust design using techniques
compliance (regulatory), first, such as failure mode and effects
second, and third party. (Apply) analysis (FMEA), quality function
deployment (QFD), Design for X
2. Roles and responsibilities in audits (DFX), and Design for Six Sigma
Identify and define roles (DFSS). (Analyze)
and responsibilities for audit
participants such as audit team 2. Review
(leader and members), client, Identify and apply common elements
and auditee. (Understand) of the design review process,
including roles and responsibilities
3. Audit planning of participants. (Apply)
and implementation
Describe and apply the stages C. Technical Drawings
of a quality audit, from audit and Specifications
planning through conducting Interpret specification requirements
the audit. (Apply) in relation to product and process
characteristics and technical drawings,
4. Audit reporting and follow-up
including characteristics such as
Apply the steps of audit reporting views, title blocks, dimensioning
and follow-up, including the need and tolerancing, and GD&T
to verify corrective action. (Apply) symbols. (Evaluate)

E. Cost of Quality (COQ) D. Verification and Validation

Identify and apply COQ concepts, Interpret the results of evaluations
including cost categorization, data and tests used to verify and validate
collection, reporting, and interpreting the design of products, processes
results. (Analyze) and services, such as installation
qualification (IQ), operational
F. Quality Training qualification (OQ), and process
Identify and apply key elements of a qualification (PQ). (Evaluate)
training program, including conducting
a needs analysis, developing curricula E. Reliability and Maintainability
and materials, and determining the
program’s effectiveness. (Apply) 1. Predictive and preventive
maintenance tools
Describe and apply the tools and
III. Product, Process, techniques used to maintain and
and Service Design improve process and product
reliability. (Apply)
(23 Questions)
2. Reliability and
A. Classification of
maintainability indices
Quality Characteristics
Review and analyze indices such
Define, interpret, and classify quality
as MTTF, MTBF, MTTR, availability,
characteristics for new and existing
and failure rate. (Analyze)
products, processes, and services.
(Note: The classification of defects 3. Reliability models
is covered in IV.B.3.) (Evaluate)
Identify, define, and distinguish
between the basic elements
of reliability models such as
exponential, Weibull, and
bathtub curve. (Apply)

8 Certified Quality Engineer

 4. Reliability/Safety/ 2. Sampling standards and plans
Hazard Assessment Tools Identify, interpret, and apply
Define, construct, and interpret the ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 and Z1.9
results of failure mode and effects standards for attributes and
analysis (FMEA), failure mode, variables sampling. Identify
effects, and criticality analysis and distinguish between single,
(FMECA), and fault tree analysis double, multiple, sequential, and
(FTA). (Evaluate) continuous sampling methods.
Identify the characteristics of
Dodge-Romig sampling tables
IV. Product and Process and when they should be used.
Control (25 Questions) (Analyze)

A. Methods 3. Sample integrity

Implement product and process Identify and apply techniques
control methods such as control plan for establishing and maintaining
development, critical control point sample integrity. (Apply)
identification, and work instruction
development and validation. (Analyze) D. Measurement and Test
1. Measurement tools
B. Material Control
Select and describe appropriate
1. Material identification, uses of inspection tools such
status, and traceability as gage blocks, calipers,
Define and distinguish between micrometers, and optical
these concepts, and describe comparators. (Analyze)
methods for applying them in
various situations. (Analyze) 2. Destructive and
nondestructive tests
2. Material segregation Identify when destructive and
Describe material segregation nondestructive measurement test
and its importance, and evaluate methods should be used and
appropriate methods for applying apply the methods appropriately.
it in various situations. (Evaluate) (Apply)

3. Material classification E. Metrology

Classify product and process Apply metrology techniques such as
defects and nonconformities. calibration, traceability to calibration
(Evaluate) standards, measurement error and its
sources, and control and maintenance
4. Material review board of measurement standards and
Describe the purpose and devices. (Analyze)
function of an MRB and evaluate
nonconforming product or material
F. Measurement System
to make a disposition decision in
various situations. (Evaluate) Analysis (MSA)
Calculate, analyze, and interpret
repeatability and reproducibility
C. Acceptance Sampling
(gage R&R) studies, measurement
1. Sampling concepts correlation, capability, bias, linearity,
Interpret the concepts of producer precision, stability and accuracy, as
and consumer risk and related terms, well as related MSA quantitative and
including operating characteristic graphical methods. (Evaluate)
(OC) curves, acceptable quality
limit (AQL), lot tolerance percent
defective (LTPD), average outgoing
quality (AOQ), and average
outgoing quality limit (AOQL).
(Analyze)

Certified Quality Engineer 9

 V. Continuous Improvement D. Lean tools
Define, describe, and apply the
(27 Questions) following lean tools:
A. Quality Control Tools
1. 5S
Select, construct, apply, and interpret
the following quality control tools: 2. Value stream mapping
3. Kanban
1. Flowcharts
4. Visual control
2. Pareto charts
5. Waste (Muda)
3. Cause and effect diagrams
6. Standardized work
4. Control charts
7. Takt time
5. Check sheets
8. Single minute exchange
6. Scatter diagrams
of die (SMED) (Evaluate)
7. Histograms (Analyze)
E. Corrective Action
B. Quality Management Identify, describe, and apply elements
of the corrective action process,
and Planning Tools
including problem identification, failure
Select, construct, apply, and interpret analysis, root cause analysis, problem
the following quality management and correction, recurrence control, and
planning tools: verification of effectiveness. (Evaluate)
1. Affinity diagrams
and force field analysis F. Preventive Action
Identify, describe, and apply various
2. Tree diagrams preventive action tools such as error
3. Process decision proofing/poka-yoke and robust
program charts (PDPC) design and analyze their effectiveness.
(Evaluate)
4. Matrix diagrams
5. Interrelationship digraphs VI. Quantitative Methods
6. Prioritization matrices and Tools (36 Questions)
7. Activity network diagrams
A. Collecting and Summarizing Data
(Analyze)
1. Types of data
C. Continuous Improvement Define, classify, and compare
Methodologies discrete (attributes) and continuous
Define, describe, and apply the (variables) data. (Apply)
following continuous improvement
methodologies: 2. Measurement scales
Define and describe nominal,
1. Total quality management (TQM) ordinal, interval, and ratio scales.
2. Kaizen (Understand)

3. Plan-do-check-act (PDCA) 3. Data collection methods

4. Six Sigma Describe various methods for
collecting data, including tally or
5. Theory of constraints (ToC) check sheets, data coding, and
(Evaluate) automatic gaging and identify
the strengths and weaknesses
of the methods. (Apply)

10 Certified Quality Engineer

 4. Data accuracy and integrity B. Quantitative Concepts
Apply techniques that ensure 1. Terminology
data accuracy and integrity,
Define and apply quantitative
and identify factors that can
terms, including population,
influence data accuracy such
parameter, sample, statistic,
as source/resource issues,
random sampling, and expected
flexibility, versatility, inconsistency,
value. (Analyze)
inappropriate interpretation of data
values, and redundancy. (Apply) 2. Drawing statistical conclusions
5. Descriptive statistics Distinguish between numeric
and analytical studies. Assess the
Describe, calculate, and interpret
validity of statistical conclusions
measures of central tendency and
by analyzing the assumptions
dispersion (central limit theorem),
used and the robustness of the
and construct and interpret frequency
technique used. (Evaluate)
distributions, including simple,
categorical, grouped, ungrouped, 3. Probability terms and concepts
and cumulative. (Evaluate)
Describe concepts such as
6. Graphical methods for independence, mutually exclusive,
multiplication rules, complementary
depicting relationships
probability, and joint occurrence
Construct, apply, and interpret of events. (Understand)
diagrams and charts such as
stem-and-leaf plots, and box-
and-whisker plots. (Note: Scatter C. Probability Distributions
diagrams are covered in V.A.) 1. Continuous distributions
(Analyze) Define and distinguish between
these distributions such as
7. Graphical methods for normal, uniform, bivariate normal,
depicting distributions exponential, lognormal, Weibull, chi
Construct, apply, and interpret square, Student’s t, and F. (Analyze)
diagrams such as normal and
non-normal probability plots.
(Note: Histograms are covered
in V.A.) (Analyze)
 2. Discrete distributions 2. Simple linear correlation
Define and distinguish between Calculate the correlation coefficient
these distributions such as and its confidence interval and
binomial, Poisson, hypergeometric, construct and interpret a hypothesis
and multinomial. (Analyze) test for correlation statistics. (Analyze)

D. Statistical Decision Making 3. Time-series analysis

Define, describe, and use time-
1. Point estimates and
series analysis, including moving
confidence intervals average to identify trends and
Define, describe, and assess the seasonal or cyclical variation.
efficiency and bias of estimators. (Apply)
Calculate and interpret standard
error, tolerance intervals, and F. Statistical Process Control (SPC)
confidence intervals. (Evaluate)
1. Objectives and benefits
2. Hypothesis testing Identify and explain the objectives
Define, interpret, and apply and benefits of SPC. (Understand)
hypothesis tests for means,
variances, and proportions. 2. Common and special causes
Apply and interpret the concepts Describe, identify, and distinguish
of significance level, power, and between these types of causes.
type I and type II errors. Define (Analyze)
and distinguish between statistical
and practical significance. 3. Selection of variable
(Evaluate) Identify and select characteristics
for monitoring by control chart.
3. Paired-comparison tests (Analyze)
Define and use paired-comparison
(parametric) hypothesis tests and 4. Rational subgrouping
interpret the results. (Apply) Define and apply the principles of
rational subgrouping. (Apply)
4. Goodness-of-fit tests
Define chi square and 5. Control charts
other goodness-of-fit tests Identify, select, construct,
and understand the results. and use various control charts,
(Understand) including X-R, X-s, individuals
and moving range (ImR or XmR),
5. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) moving average and moving
Define and use ANOVAs and range (MamR), p, np, c,
interpret the results. (Analyze) and u. (Analyze)

6. Contingency tables 6. Control chart analysis

Define and use contingency Read and interpret control charts
tables to evaluate statistical and use rules for determining
significance. (Apply) statistical control. (Evaluate)

E. Relationships Between Variables 7. Pre-control charts

Define and describe these charts
1. Linear regression and how they differ from other
Calculate the regression equation control charts. (Understand)
for simple regressions and least
squares estimates. Construct 8. Short-run SPC
and interpret hypothesis tests for Identify and define short-run
regression statistics. Use linear SPC rules. (Understand)
regression models for estimation
and prediction. (Analyze)

Certified Quality Engineer 13

 G. Process and 4. One-factor experiments
Performance Capability Construct one-factor experiments
such as completely randomized,
1. Process capability studies
randomized block, and Latin square
Define, describe, calculate, designs, and use computational and
and use process capability graphical methods to analyze the
studies, including identifying significance of results. (Analyze)
characteristics, specifications
and tolerances, developing 5. Full-factorial experiments
sampling plans for such studies, Construct full-factorial designs
and establishing statistical control. and use computational and
(Analyze) graphical methods to analyze the
significance of results. (Analyze)
2. Process performance
vs. specifications 6. Two-level fractional
Distinguish between natural factorial experiments
process limits and specification Construct two-level fractional
limits, and calculate percent factorial designs and apply
defective, defects per million computational and graphical
opportunities (DPMO), and parts methods to analyze the significance
per million (PPM). (Analyze) of results. (Analyze)
3. Process capability indices
Define, select, and calculate Cp, VII. Risk Management
Cpk, Cpm, and Cr, and evaluate (15 Questions)
process capability. (Evaluate)
A. Risk Oversight
4. Process performance indices
1. Planning and oversight
Define, select, and calculate Pp
Understand identification,
and Ppk, and evaluate process
planning, prioritization, and
performance. (Evaluate)
oversight of risk. (Understand)
H. Design and Analysis 2. Metrics
of Experiments Identify and apply evaluation
1. Terminology metrics. (Apply)
Define terms such as dependent
3. Mitigation planning
and independent variables, factors,
levels, response, treatment, error, Apply and interpret risk mitigation
and replication. (Understand) plan. (Evaluate)

2. Planning and B. Risk Assessment

organizing experiments Apply categorization methods
Identify the basic elements of and evaluation tools to assess risk.
designed experiments, including (Analyze)
determining the experiment
objective, selecting factors, C. Risk Control
responses, and measurement 1. Identification and documentation
methods, and choosing the
appropriate design. (Analyze) Identify and document risks, gaps,
and controls. (Analyze)
3. Design principles
2. Auditing and testing
Define and apply the principles
of power and sample size, Apply auditing techniques and
balance, replication, order, testing of controls. (Evaluate)
efficiency, randomization,
blocking, interaction, and
confounding. (Apply)

14 Certified Quality Engineer

LEVELS OF COGNITION
Based on Bloom’s Taxonomy—Revised (2001)

In addition to content specifics, the subtext for each topic in this BoK 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—
Revised, 2001) and are presented below in rank order, from least complex
to most complex.

REMEMBER | Recall or recognize terms, EVALUATE | Make judgments about the

definitions, facts, ideas, materials, patterns, value of proposed ideas, solutions, etc.,
sequences, methods, principles, etc. by comparing the proposal to specific
criteria or standards.
UNDERSTAND | Read and understand
descriptions, communications, reports, CREATE | Put parts or elements together
tables, diagrams, directions, regulations, etc. in such a way as to reveal a pattern or
structure not clearly there before; identify
APPLY | Know when and how to use which data or information from a complex
ideas, procedures, methods, formulas, set is appropriate to examine further or
principles, theories, etc. from which supported conclusions can
be drawn.
ANALYZE | Break down information into
its constituent parts and recognize their
relationship to one another and how they
are organized; identify sublevel factors or
salient data from a complex scenario.

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2015 CQE BoK

Item B0050