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 and is
offered in English only. 160 multiple offered in Mandarin and Korean in
choice questions are scored and 15 certain locations.
are unscored. Total appointment time
is five-and-a-half hours, exam time
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 If you were ever certified by ASQ as:

You must have eight years of on-the- • Quality Auditor (CQA)

job experience in one or more of the • Reliability Engineer (CRE)
areas of the Certified Quality Engineer
Body of Knowledge. • Software Quality Engineer (CSQE)

A minimum of three years of • Manager of Quality/Organizational

this experience must be in a Excellence (CMQ/OE)
decision-making position. “Decision • Supplier Quality Professional
making” is defined as the authority (CSQP)
to define, execute, or control projects/
Experience used to qualify for
processes and to be responsible for the
certification in these fields applies to
outcome. This may or may not include
certification as a Quality Engineer
management or supervisory positions.
(CQE).

4 Certified Quality Engineer

If you have completed a degree* from *Degrees or diplomas from
a college, university, or technical school educational institutions outside
with accreditation accepted by ASQ, part the United States must be
of the eight-year experience requirement equivalent to degrees from
will be waived, as follows (only one of U.S. educational institutions.
these waivers may be claimed):
• Diploma from a technical or trade
school–one year will be waived.
• Associate’s degree–
two years waived.
• Bachelor’s degree–
four years waived.
• Master’s or doctorate–
five years 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 (17 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, statistical stakeholder identification
process control (SPC), and total quality and analysis. (Apply)
management. Understand how modern
quality has evolved from quality control c. Performance
through statistical process control
Define, describe, and use
(SPC) to total quality management and
performance measurement tools
leadership principles (including Deming’s
such as cost-benefit analysis.
14 points). (Understand)
(Apply)
B. The Quality Management d. Project management
System (QMS) Define, describe, and use project
1. Strategic planning management tools, including
Gantt charts and the responsible,
Identify and define top management’s
accountable, consulted and
responsibility for the QMS, including
informed matrix (RACI). (Apply)
establishing policies, and objectives,
setting organization-wide goals, and 3. Quality information system (QIS)
supporting quality initiatives. (Apply)
Identify and describe the basic
2. Deployment techniques elements of a QIS, including who will
contribute data, the kind of data to be
Define, describe, and use various
managed, who will have access to
deployment tools in support of the
the data, the level of flexibility for future
QMS such as:
information needs, and data analysis.
(Understand)

6 Certified Quality Engineer

 I. Barriers to Quality Improvement
Identify barriers to quality improvement,
C. ASQ Code of Ethics analyze their causes and impact, and
for Professional Conduct implement methods for improvement.
Determine appropriate behavior in (Analyze)
situations requiring ethical decisions.
(Evaluate)
II. The Quality System
D. Leadership Principles (18 Questions)
and Techniques A. Elements of the Quality System
Analyze various principles and
techniques for developing and 1. Basic elements
organizing teams and leading Interpret the basic elements of a quality
quality initiatives. (Analyze) system, including planning, control,
and improvement, from product and
E. Facilitation Principles process design through quality cost
systems
and Techniques and audit programs. (Evaluate)
1. Roles and responsibilities
Describe the facilitator’s roles 2. Design
and responsibilities on a team. Analyze the design and alignment of
(Understand) interrelated processes to the strategic
plan and core processes. (Analyze)
2. Facilitation tools
Apply various tools used with teams, B. Documentation of
including brainstorming, nominal group the Quality System
technique, conflict resolution, and
force-field analysis. (Apply) 1. Document components
Identify and describe quality system
F. Communication Skills documentation components, including
quality policies and procedures to
Identify and distinguish between specific
support the system. (Understand)
communication methods that are used for
delivering information and messages in a 2. Document control
variety of situations across all levels of the
Evaluate configuration management,
organization. (Analyze)
maintenance, and document control to
manage work instructions and quality
G. Customer Relations records. (Evaluate)
Define, apply, and analyze the results of
customer relation tools such as customer
C. Quality Standards
satisfaction surveys. (Analyze)
and Other Guidelines
Apply national and international standards
H. Supplier Management
and other requirements
1. Techniques and guidelines, including the Malcolm
Apply various supplier management Baldrige National Quality Award
techniques, including supplier (MBNQA), and describe key points of
qualification, certification, and the ISO 9000 series of standards. (Note:
evaluation. (Apply) Industry-specific standards will not be
tested.) (Apply)
2. Improvement
Analyze supplier ratings and
performance improvement results.
(Analyze)

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

Certified Quality Engineer 7

 D. Quality Audits B. Design Inputs, Techniques, and
1. Types of audits Review
Describe and classify the various types 1. Inputs
of quality audits such as product, Classify design inputs such as customer
process, management (system), needs, regulatory requirements, critical
registration (certification), compliance to quality, and risk assessment into
(regulatory), first, second, and third robust design using techniques such
party. (Apply) as failure mode and effects analysis
(FMEA). (Analyze)
2. Roles and responsibilities in audits
Identify and define roles 2. Techniques
and responsibilities for audit Apply Design for X (DFX), Design for Six
participants such as audit team (leader Sigma (DFSS), and requirements
and members), client, and auditee. traceability. (Apply)
(Understand)
3. Review
3. Audit planning Identify and apply common elements of
and implementation the design review process, including
Describe and apply the stages of a roles and responsibilities
quality audit, from audit planning, of participants. (Apply)
including assessing risks through
conducting an audit. (Apply) C. Technical Drawings
and Specifications
4. Audit reporting and follow-up
Interpret specification requirements
Apply the steps of audit reporting and in relation to product and process
follow-up, including the need to verify characteristics and technical drawings,
corrective action. (Apply) including characteristics such as
views, title blocks, dimensioning
E. Cost of Quality (COQ) and tolerancing, and geometric
Identify and apply COQ concepts, dimensioning and tolerance
including cost categorization, data symbols (GD&T). (Evaluate)
collection, reporting, and interpreting
results. (Analyze) D. Verification and Validation
Interpret the results of evaluations and tests
F. Quality Training used to verify and validate the design of
Identify and apply key elements of a products, processes and services, such as
training program, including conducting a installation qualification (IQ), operational
needs analysis, preparing curricula and qualification (OQ), and process
materials, and determining the program’s qualification (PQ). (Evaluate)
effectiveness. (Apply)
E. Reliability and Maintainability
III. Product, Process, 1. Predictive and preventive
and Service Design maintenance tools
Describe and apply the tools and
(21 Questions) techniques used to maintain and
A. Classification of improve process and product
reliability. (Apply)
Quality Characteristics
Define, interpret, assess, and classify 2. Reliability and
quality characteristics for new and maintainability indices
existing products, processes, and
services. (Note: The classification of Apply indices such as mean time to
defects failure (MTTF), mean time between
is covered in IV.B.3.) (Evaluate) failure (MTBF), mean time to repair
(MTTR), availability, and failure rate.
(Apply)

8 Certified Quality Engineer

 3. Reliability models C. Acceptance Sampling
Classify and apply the basic 1. Sampling concepts
elements of reliability models such
Apply the concepts of producer and
as exponential, Weibull, and bathtub
consumer risk, and related terms,
curve. (Apply)
including operating characteristic
(OC) curves, acceptable quality limit
4. Reliability/Safety/
(AQL), and lot tolerance percent
Hazard Assessment Tools defective (LTPD). (Apply)
Define, construct, and interpret the
results of failure mode and effects 2. Sampling standards and plans
analysis (FMEA), design FMEA Identify, interpret, and apply ANSI/
(dFMEA), process FMEA (pFMEA), ASQ Z1.4 and Z1.9 standards for
use FMEA (uFMEA), failure mode, attributes and variables sampling.
effects, and criticality analysis (Analyze)
(FMECA), and hazard analysis.
(Analyze) 3. Sample integrity
Identify and apply techniques for
IV. Product and Process establishing and maintaining sample
integrity. (Apply)
Control (23 Questions)
A. Methods D. Measurement and Test
Implement product and process 1. Measurement tools
control methods such as control plan Select and describe appropriate
development, critical control point uses of inspection tools such as
identification, and work instruction gage blocks, calipers, micrometers,
development and validation. (Analyze) optical comparators, and coordinate
measuring machines (CMM).
B. Material Control (Analyze)
1. Material identification,
2. Destructive and
status, and traceability
nondestructive tests
Define and distinguish between these
concepts, and describe methods for Identify when destructive and
applying them in various situations. nondestructive measurement test
(Analyze) methods should be used and apply
the methods appropriately. (Apply)
2. Material segregation
Describe material segregation and its E. Metrology
importance, and evaluate appropriate Apply metrology techniques such as
methods for applying it in various calibration, traceability to calibration
situations. (Evaluate) standards, measurement error and its
sources, and control and maintenance
3. Material classification of measurement standards and devices.
Assess and classify product and (Apply)
process defects and nonconformities.
(Evaluate) F. Measurement System
Analysis (MSA)
4. Material review board (MRB) Calculate, analyze, and interpret
Describe the purpose and function of repeatability and reproducibility (gage
an MRB, and evaluate nonconforming R&R) studies, measurement correlation,
product or material to make a capability, bias, linearity, precision, stability
disposition decision in various and accuracy, using MSA quantitative and
situations. (Evaluate) graphical methods. (Evaluate)

Certified Quality Engineer 9

 V. Continuous Improvement D. Lean tools
Define, describe, and apply the following
(26 Questions) 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. 8 Wastes
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)
7. Histograms (Analyze)
9. Overall equipment effectiveness
(OEE) (Evaluate)
B. Quality Management
and Planning Tools E. Corrective Action
Select, construct, apply, and interpret Identify, describe, and apply elements of
the following quality management and the corrective action process, including
planning tools: problem identification, failure analysis,
root cause analysis, 5 Whys, problem
1. Affinity diagrams correction, recurrence control, and
and force field analysis verification of effectiveness. (Evaluate)
2. Tree diagrams
F. Preventive Action
3. Process decision Identify, describe, and apply various
program charts (PDPC) preventive action tools such as error
4. Matrix diagrams proofing/poka-yoke, and robust design,
and analyze their effectiveness. (Evaluate)
5. Interrelationship digraphs
6. Prioritization matrices VI. Quantitative Methods
7. Activity network diagrams and Tools (34 Questions)
(Analyze)
A. Collecting and Summarizing Data
C. Continuous Improvement
1. Types of data
Methodologies
Define, classify, and compare
Define, describe, and apply the following discrete (attributes) and continuous
continuous improvement methodologies: (variables) data. (Apply)
1. Total quality management (TQM) 2. Measurement scales
2. Kaizen Define and describe nominal,
3. Plan-do-check-act (PDCA) ordinal, interval, and ratio scales.
(Understand)
4. Six Sigma
(Analyze) 3. Data collection methods
Describe various methods for
collecting data, including tally or
check sheets, data coding, automatic
gaging, data automation, database
integration, and identify the strengths
and weaknesses of the methods.
(Apply)

10 Certified Quality Engineer

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

D. Statistical Decision-Making 3. Time-series analysis

Define, describe, and use time- series
1. Point estimates and
analysis, including moving average to
confidence intervals identify trends and seasonal or cyclical
Define, describe, and assess the bias variation. (Apply)
of estimators. 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 and
Define, interpret, and apply benefits of SPC. (Understand)
hypothesis tests for means, variances,
and proportions. Apply and interpret 2. Common and special causes
the concepts of significance level, Describe, identify, and distinguish
power, type I, and type II errors. between these types of causes.
Define and distinguish between (Analyze)
statistical and practical significance.
(Evaluate) 3. Selection of variable
Identify and select variable
3. Paired-comparison tests characteristics for monitoring by control
Define and use paired-comparison charts. (Analyze)
(parametric) hypothesis tests and
interpret the results. (Apply) 4. Rational subgrouping
Define and apply the principles of
4. Goodness-of-fit tests rational subgrouping. (Apply)
Define and use chi square and other
goodness-of-fit tests and understand 5. Control charts
the results. (Apply) Identify, select, construct,
and use various control charts,
5. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) including X-R, X-s, individuals and
Define, use, and interpret ANOVA and moving range (ImR or XmR), moving
interpret the results. (Analyze) average and moving range (MamR),
p, np, c, and u. (Analyze)
6. Contingency tables
Define and use contingency tables 6. Control chart analysis
to evaluate statistical significance. Read and interpret control charts and
(Apply) use rules for determining statistical
control. (Evaluate)
E. Relationships Between Variables
7. Short-run SPC
1. Linear regression Identify and define short-run
Calculate simple linear regression SPC rules. (Understand)
models. Illustrate hypothesis tests
for regression statistics. Use linear
regression models for estimation and
prediction. (Apply)

Certified Quality Engineer 13

 G. Process and 4. Full-factorial experiments
Performance Capability Construct full-factorial designs and
use computational and graphical
1. Process capability studies
methods to analyze the significance of
Define, describe, calculate, and results. (Analyze)
use process capability studies,
including identifying characteristics, 5. Two-level fractional
specifications and tolerances, factorial experiments
developing sampling plans for such
Construct two-level fractional
studies, and establishing statistical
factorial designs and apply
control. (Analyze)
computational and graphical
2. Process performance methods to analyze the significance of
results. (Analyze)
vs. specifications
Distinguish between natural process
limits and specification limits, and VII. Risk Management
calculate percent defective, defects (21 Questions)
per million opportunities (DPMO), and
parts per million (PPM). (Analyze) A. Risk Fundamentals
1. Risk terminology
3. Process capability indices
Define, describe, and apply risk
Define, select, and calculate Cp, Cpk,
terminology such as risk, risk
Cpm, and Cr, and evaluate process
management, severity, occurrence,
capability. (Evaluate)
detection, and risk-based thinking.
4. Process performance indices (Analyze)
Define, select, and calculate Pp 2. Types of risk management
and Ppk, and evaluate process
Understand and apply various types
performance. (Evaluate)
of enterprise (strategic, software,
business, regulatory, medical, audit),
H. Design and Analysis operational (supplier, supply chain,
of Experiments safety, project, manufacturing,
1. Terminology operations, service, quality system),
and product (design, process, use,
Define terms such as dependent
safety) risk management. (Apply)
and independent variables, factors,
levels, response, treatment, error, and
replication. (Understand) B. Risk Planning and Assessment
1. Risk management plan
2. Planning and Analyze and interpret a risk
organizing experiments management plan and its components
Identify the basic elements of designed (objectives, risk criteria, stakeholder
experiments, including determining identification, and team member
the experiment objective, selecting roles/responsibilities) to identify and
factors, responses, and measurement prioritize risks. (Analyze)
methods, and choosing the
appropriate design. (Analyze) 2. Risk assessment
Apply categorization methods and
3. Design principles evaluation tools to assess risk such
Define and apply the principles of as failure mode and effects analysis.
power and sample size, balance, Identify and apply evaluation metrics
replication, order, efficiency, including the use of risk matrices, risk
randomization, blocking, interaction, priority numbers, and acceptability
and confounding. (Apply) criteria. (Analyze)

14 Certified Quality Engineer

 C. Risk Treatment, Control, and
Monitoring
1. Identification and documentation
Identify risks, gaps, and controls and
document with tools such as a risk
register. (Analyze)

2. Risk management system

evaluation
Apply auditing techniques and
testing of controls to evaluate a risk
management system. (Apply)

3. Risk treatment strategies

Understand and apply risk treatment
strategies, such as avoid, mitigate,
transfer, and accept. (Analyze)

4. Risk monitoring
Apply risk monitoring techniques such
as, complaint tracking, trending, and
post-market surveillance. (Analyze)

5. Mitigation planning
Apply and interpret risk mitigation plan.
(Analyze)

15 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., by
sequences, methods, principles, etc. comparing the proposal to specific criteria
or standards.
UNDERSTAND | Read and understand
descriptions, communications, reports, tables, CREATE | Put parts or elements together in
diagrams, directions, regulations, etc. such a way as to reveal a pattern or structure
not clearly there before; identify which data or
APPLY | Know when and how to use ideas, information from a complex set is appropriate
procedures, methods, formulas, principles, to examine further or from which supported
theories, etc. 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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based-testing

2022 CQE BoK