asq certification program gain wider recognition
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ASQ Certification ProgramGains Wider RecognitionExams based on rigorous development process
carried out by member volunteers
by
John W. Moran and Patricia C. La Londe
P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T
OR ALARIS MEDICAL SYSTEMS
Inc. quality and reliability are liter-
ally a way of life. Thats because the
company makes an array of devices
used in health care, including pace-
maker monitors and high-tech pumps for
intravenous drug therapies.
Five years ago, ALARIS decided to underscoreits commitment to quality by instituting a new
personnel policy: Individuals working in quality
would need to pass an ASQ certification exam if
there was one applicable to their job duties.
The ALARIS staffers were given two years to
get their certifications, and the company helped
organize study groups and put them in touch
with ASQ sections that could provide refresher
courses. For some, it was a challenging assign-
ment. They had to expand their knowledge and
learn techniques and approaches that werent
necessarily in use at ALARIS. Not everyone
passed the exam the first time around.Despite the difficulties, however, the certifi-
cation requirement has proven to be a success.
Today ALARIS has approximately 60 ASQ
certified technicians, inspectors, auditors,
engineers and managers, with some holding
multiple certifications.
Fostering teamwork
The common experience of certification has
helped foster teamwork among the quality
staffers. Because of their shared knowledgebase, they are able to communicate more effec-
tively with their counterparts throughout the
company, whether they are at the companys
San Diego headquarters or at its manufacturing
plants in Mexico and North Carolina. They
have also helped to shift the companys quality
focus, with a greater emphasis on preventive
rather than reactive efforts.
F
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Employees have benefited on an individualbasis from the certification process as well. Notonly do they get a gift and recognition from thevice president of quality during quarterly staff
meetings after passing their certification exams,but the ALARIS employees also know that theyhave increased their value to their employer andtheir marketability in their industry. Whilecertification may not be the only factor, qualityprofessionals with ASQ certifications reportearning as much as $20,000 more per year thanindividuals working in similar jobs who lackcertification.
Growing recognition
Since 1968, when the first certification exam was
given, more than 85,000 individuals have becomecertified through ASQ, including many who haveattained more than one designation (see sidebar 19Hold All ASQ Certifications). In addition, anincreasing number of companies, approximately 125at last count, havelike ALARISformally recog-
William C. Meyer dropped out of high school in 1974 to
pump gas at his local Texaco station. It may not have been
the most auspicious beginning to a career in quality, but
today he has become part of an elite group of ASQ members.
What sets him apart is not his educational record, whichincludes two associates degrees as well as bachelors and
masters degrees in business administration. Nor is it his
work history, although he has come a long way, from ser-
vice station attendant to quality manager at Mercury
Marine in El Paso, TX.
What makes Meyer a rarity among quality professionals
is his certification status. He is one of just 19 individuals
who maintain all seven certifications.
Quality Progressknew little about the 19 individuals
who accomplished this feat, so we set out to understand
the motives behind their dedication, perseverance and
determination regarding ASQ certification. While the paths
leading them toward professional certification varied, wefound three commonalities regarding their drive to pass
all seven exams. The 19 seemed motivated by the desire
to understand the quality arena in its entirety, the opportu-
nity to outshine competitors in the job market and the
need to satisfy an inner drive for achievement.
19 Hold All
Certified
C e r t i f i e d Q u a l i t y E n g i n e e r
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 diag-
nose and correct improper quality control practices, an understanding of human
factors and motivation, facility with quality cost concepts and techniques, and the
knowledge and ability to develop and administer management information sys-
tems and to audit quality systems for deficiency identification and correction.
Body of knowledge
The following is an outline of the topics that constitute the body of knowledge
for quality engineering:
Management and leadership in quality engineering.
Quality systems development, implementation and verification.
Planning, controlling, and assuring product and process quality.
Reliability and risk management.
Problem solving and quality improvement.
Quantitative methods.
Exam dates for 2000 Application deadlines
AQC administration May 7 April 21
June 3 April 7
December 2 October 13
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Personal achievement
Having achieved all of the ASQ certifications and sever-
al of those offered by other organizations, John H. Bille
has a particular aspiration. I did and still do have a per-sonal goal to be the most certified dude, he says. Bille,
president and chief operating officer for Quality Services
International in Richardson, TX, is not alone in viewing all
of the certifications as a kind of personalized pursuit of
excellence.
Many of the 19 say that after passing three or four
exams, it became somewhat of a sport, an opportunity
to prove to themselves that they could pass all the
exams. Most say they enjoyed preparing for the exams,
expanding their knowledge of quality philosophies and
challenging themselves. Glenn E. Andres, a quality man-
ager from Downers Grove, IL, says that much of the
reward was the journey itself.Most of the 19 men said they would take any future cer-
tification exam ASQ offers in order to maintain their
personal goal. And many urge other ASQ members to
establish similar goals, discover how ASQ can help them
reach those goals and then work toward achieving them.
ASQ provides a level playing field, game rules and the
referees, Andres says. All you must do is pick up the
ball and run with it. How far you run is your choice.
Understanding qualitys body of knowledge
When he entered the quality field, Lyle F. Hilfigure Jr.
was a self-described high school graduate with an atti-
tude. While preparing for his first attempts at
certification, however, he realized just how much he didnt
know. In preparing for my first four exams, I learned
about 10 times as much as I had known about quality, he
says. After taking those exams, I realized I knew less than
one-tenth what I thought I knew.
Preparing for an exam means understanding the con-
cepts behind the exams body of knowledge (BOK). Many
of the 19 said that by passing all the exams, they hoped to
better understand the entire scope of the quality arena
the BOK for the overall realm of quality.
My drive was to master the quality domain, says
Tracy P. Omdahl, who works for Underwriters Laboratories
in Argentina as a general manager of a subsidiary. Thegreatest personal benefit of certification lies in my satisfac-
tion at being immersed in the quality body of knowledge.
Several of the 19 members we talked to mentioned the
same motive for taking all the exams. Phil Sands of Lucent
Technologies and Bill Klodt of Sonopress LLC, for exam-
ple, say they took the exams to learn more about the
various aspects and principles of quality. Klodt says that
achieving all the certifications was his way of discovering
and understanding all of qualitys various disciplines.
Standing out in the crowd
Another reason members sought to pass all the exams
was to enhance their positioning among others in the jobmarketto stand above the competition. I thought to
have all [of the ASQ certifications] would set me apart
from many of my colleagues, says Steven A. Arndt of the
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Washington.
I wanted my rsum to get noticed, agrees Owen B.
Mayer, a staff reliability engineer in Longmont, CO. I
earned all the certifications because it demonstrates that I
have a very broad set of skills, which increases my value
to employers. Mayer believes many employers would
call him in for an interview if only to meet the kind of indi-
vidual who earned all of ASQs certifications.
John W. Jennings III can validate Mayers claim.
Jennings, currently a reliability engineer in Irving, TX, sayshis unique certification status kept companies interested in
his rsum during the downsizing of the 1980s. I was laid
off several times during that period, Jennings says, but I
was always able to find a job within six weeks because of
my ASQ certifications. Jennings can point to specific
instances where employers told him he was called for an
interview due to his certification status.
Owning a rsum that stands out among others isnt the
only reason Jennings made ASQ certification such a large
part of his professional life. It is also the personal pride of
having done what few others have done, he says.
ASQ Certifications
Glenn E. Andres
Steven A. Arndt
John H. Bille
Mahlon (Woody)
Cashman
John A. Conte
Darrin Dodson
Richard Hauser
Lyle F. Hilfigure Jr.
John W. Jennings III
Bill Klodt
Kevin M. Laird
Owen B. Mayer
William C. Meyer
Tracy P. Omdahl
Phil Sands
Philip Stein
L. M. (Lez) Stodart
James Vanaman
Jimmie L. Wisdom
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Mark R. Hagen, assistant editor
Here is a list of the individuals who currently
maintain all of ASQs certifications:
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nized ASQs certification as verification of an individu-als knowledge of quality theory and techniques. Arecent search on www.monster.com, an Internet job list-ings site, resulted in more than 575 job postings calling
for an ASQ certification. These statistics demonstratethe increasing value of ASQ certification as perceived inthe marketplace.
But for many, the process of becoming certifiedremains something of a mystery (see Top 10 Myths ofCertification, p. 34). Frequently asked questions comeup about how the exams are put together, how they arescored (see sidebar ASQ Uses Cut Score Process,p. 36) and how to prepare for taking the test. The bal-ance of this article will attempt to address these issues,although we should say at the outset that preparing totake an exam is a personal matter and highly dependent
on an individuals personal learning methods. For some,a careful reading of the texts in the reference bibliogra-phy will be most helpful, while others may find value inpurchasing study guides, taking a refresher course orforming a study group with other quality professionals(see sidebar Tips for Taking the Exams, p. 38).
Ensuring exam integrity
For its part, the Certification Board of ASQ does notendorse any particular method of preparation. TheSocietys top priority is ensuring the integrity of theexam process, and to that end it mandates that anyoneinvolved in the development of an exam must agreeto refrain from having anything to do with helpingothers prepare for the test, either formally or informal-ly, for a period of two years.
Its important to understand that ASQ certificationis not a license or registration. It is a peer recognitionthat an individual has demonstrated a proficiency inand comprehension of a particular quality area at aspecific point in time. ASQ certification is offered tothose who meet three sets of criteria. Candidates mustshow that they have a specified level of education
and/or experience, provide proof of professionalismand pass a standardized exam.
Although ASQ membership is not a prerequisite forcertification, most of those holding one of these desig-nations do belong to the Society. In fact certificationranks as one of the top benefits of membership.
C e r t i f i e d Q u a l i t y A u d i t o r
The certified quality auditor (CQA) is a professional who understands the stan-
dards and principles of auditing and the auditing techniques of examining,
questioning, evaluating and reporting to determine a quality systems adequacy
and deficiencies. The CQA analyzes all elements of a quality system and judges
its degree of adherence to the criteria of industrial management and quality eval-
uation and control systems.
Body of knowledge
The following is an outline of the topics that constitute the body of knowledge
for quality auditing:
Ethics, professional conduct and liability issues.
Audit preparation.
Audit performance. Audit reporting.
Corrective action follow-up and closure.
Audit program management.
General knowledge and skills.
Exam dates for 2000 Application deadlines
AQC administration May 7 April 21
June 3 April 7
December 2 October 13Cert
ified
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The certification exams are not created in an ivorytower or by a computer program that generates ques-tions. Their development relies heavily on the effortsof ASQ members. During the course of a given year,approximately 300 volunteers will be involved insome phase of certification, ranging from developing
a body of knowledge (BOK) to writing questions toensuring the validity of an exam.
Volunteers come to ASQ headquarters inMilwaukee for up to three days at a time. During thatperiod, they are expected to put in long, fast-paceddays that may keep them occupied for up to 10 hoursat a stretch. These are intensive sessions with lots ofquestioning and interaction. In return the volunteersget to sharpen their skills, network with peers andcome away with the knowledge that they have con-tributed to the development of the quality field.
Job analysis survey
The starting point for the exam development processis a job analysis survey that is conducted every fiveyears to identify the skills and knowledge areas cur-rently being used in the field. In order to createappropriate items for the survey instrument, an adviso-ry board is appointed by the sponsoring ASQ division.
This committee, like all of the subsequent examdevelopment committees, is composed of ASQ mem-bers who work in the area to be tested and are alreadycertified. In the case of brand new certification exams,ASQ volunteers who are subject matter experts in the
field to be tested serve on the committee. These volun-teers meet for two days. Their primary goals are toidentify typical job responsibilities (what people do onthe job) and the knowledge bases required (what peo-ple need to know in order to perform their job). Thecommittee also reviews a wide variety of textbooks to
ensure that these topics are covered in reference mate-rial that is readily available.
In the case of the survey advisory board, its workresults in a questionnaire that asks respondents torate each item in the survey in terms of criticality(how important is this task or knowledge) and fre-quency (how often is this task performed orknowledge used). The survey is piloted to ensure thatthe questionnaire itself is as clearly presented and aseasy to complete as possible.
Member input
Once the survey instrument has been approved andall necessary revisions made, it is sent to a sample ofcertified ASQ members who either work in the area tobe tested (as identified by job title) or superviseemployees who perform the tasks identified in thesurvey. Except for the deliberate job title selection, the2,000 plus certified ASQ members who receive thesurvey are randomly selected across geographic loca-tions and industry types to ensure that no oneindustry or region skews the results of the survey.
The data from the survey are then analyzed and aset of recommended tasks and knowledge areas is pre-
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C e r t i f i e d S o f t w a r e Q u a l i t y E n g i n e e r
The certified software quality engineer (CSQE) is a professional who has a
comprehensive understanding of software quality development and implementa-
tion; has a thorough understanding of software inspection, testing, verification
and validation; and can implement software development and maintenance
processes and methods.
Body of knowledge
The following is an outline of the topics that constitute the body of knowledge
for software quality engineers:
General knowledge, conduct and ethics.
Software quality management.
Software processes.
Software project management.
Software metrics, measurement and analytical methods.
Software inspection, testing, verification and validation.
C
ertified
Exam dates for 2000 Application deadlines
AQC administration May 7 April 21
June 3 April 7
December 2 October 13
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A S Q C E R T I F I C AT I O N P R O G R A M
Myth: The passing score for all
ASQ exams is 70%.
Fact: The passing score for each
ASQ exam is established as a mini-
mum performance standard duringthe cut score process, which is
detailed on p. 36.
Myth: Taking a section refresher
course or buying ASQ exam prep
material is a sure bet to pass.
Fact: Section refresher courses and
the self-directed products are excellent
ways to prepare for the examinations,
but using them does not guarantee
that you will pass. Refresher courses
are meant to refresh your knowledge,
not to instruct you in areas that arent
familiar to you. Questions from the
self-directed products will assist you inbecoming familiar with how to answer
certain questions, but they are not the
same questions that you will see on
the exams. Individual study is also a
critical element for success.
Myth: There is no grace period for
recertification journals.
Fact: You have six months after
your recertification expiration date to
submit your journal. The journal
should be sent to your local section
if you are an ASQ member, or direct-
ly to ASQ if you are a nonmember.
Myth: If you do poorly on one areaof the body of knowledge, you auto-
matically fail the test.
Fact: Your total score on the exam-
ination determines whether you pass
or fail, not your score on any one
portion of the test. Even in the certi-
fied quality managers exam it is
possible to pass if you do poorly on
the constructed response portion, as
long as your overall score is at or
above the passing grade.
Myth: ASQ limits the number of
people who pass.
Fact : Anyone who meets orexceeds the passing score (cut point)
passes the examination. ASQ does
not set a passing rate.
Myth: The grading of the con-
structed response portion of the
certified quality manager exam is
very subjective.
Fact: The constructed response
portion of the exam is designed to
test the candidates ability to
respond to real world situations. The
responses are scored by certified
quality managers who have been
trained in the evaluation techniques
used for the scoring process. In addi-
tion, all the scorers judge the papers
against a standard of performance
that is specific to each essay ques-
tion. That standard is neither
arbitrary nor subjective, but is devel-
oped on the basis of sound quality
practices, as described and pre-
scribed in major textbooks in thefield of quality. The essay questions
are pretested on a group of certified
quality managers, so the develop-
ment of the question includes a
reality check to make sure that the
committees expectation of perfor-
mance matches actual responses.
Myth: The more paper documen-
tation and/or activities you send in
with your recertification packet, the
better.
Fact: Actually you are only adding
to the cost of sending your recertifi-
cation packetnot to mention thetime involved. As long as you meet
the requirements for recertification
by accruing the minimum 18 credits,
there is no need to exceed that with
additional documentation or activi-
ties. If you wish to include some
additional activities and/or documen-
tation for your peace of mind, than
typically one or two additional recer-
tification credits will be sufficient.
The exception to this rule is if you
are interested in synchronizing mul-
tiple certifications. Further questions
regarding synchronization may be
answered either by your local ASQ
section or by contacting the recertifi-
cation coordinator at ASQ head-quarters at 800-248-1946.
Myth: It takes a long time to
receive exam results.
Fact: ASQ works very hard to turn
the exam results around as quickly as
possible and is very aware that the
examinees are anxious to learn
whether they have passed or failed.
As a direct result of bringing the
exam development in-house, ASQ
has recently reduced the exam turn-
around time from eight weeks to
three and one-half weeks.
There are many steps that have to
be completed, verified and checked
prior to sending out the results: The
answer sheets have to be sent back to
ASQ headquarters and scanned; sta-
tistics must be run and reviewed by
the test development staff and appro-
priate volunteers. The results are then
scored, verified and uploaded to a
computer before any result letters can
be generated. ASQ is continuously
working to reduce this cycle time.
Myth: Test questions are deliber-
ately tricky.Fact: ASQ goes through an exten-
sive process to ensure that examina-
tion questions are as accurate, clear
and concise as possible.
Myth: I can get my scored test back.
Fact: Because of its policy to reuse
examination questions, ASQ cannot
release copies of the examinations.
Releasing tests would give the retake
applicants an unfair advantage over
candidates taking the examinations
for the first time. The integrity of the
examination process is of para-mount importance to ASQ.
Besides, it would not support the
underlying premise of the certifica-
tion program for candidates to just
study the questions they got wrong,
as it would not ensure that they
would understand the material any
better. It is more appropriate for the
retake candidates to use the diagno-
tisic information to identify the areas
where they are weak and improve
their knowledge in those areas.
Top 10 MythsOf Certification
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sented in a summary report, which is submitted to thesponsoring division. The rule for recommendation isthat a task or knowledge must score at or above themidpoint, in other words earn a score of at least 2.5 on
a scale of 1 to 5, for criticality or frequency. The spon-soring division approves the results, which are thensubmitted to the Certification Board for final approval.
After the approval process, a BOK committee isformed. This committee of subject matter experts,which includes some members of the advisory com-mittee and again has representatives from across awide demographic spectrum, meets for two days.
The BOK committees primary task is to translatethe job analysis results into meaningful categories thatcan be tested. Committee members use a variety ofquality tools to facilitate this process, and the finalresult forms an outline of major topic areas, supportedby appropriate subtopics.
The committee then determines how many ques-tions will be asked in each area of the BOK, based onthe importance of the topic as well as the depth oftestable material in that topic. The committee againuses tools such as multivoting and prioritizationmatrices to help guide the decision making process.
Writing the questions
The next step is the actual writing of the exam ques-tions. This task is handled by a group of 25 certified
volunteers who attend a two to three day questionwriting workshop. The volunteers are given extensivetraining in a variety of exam development issues, inaccordance with nationally recognized standards forthe development of assessments. The training coversvarious kinds of item types (including whats appro-priate and what isnt), how to avoid writing trickquestions and various techniques for creating ques-tions that enable candidates to show their expertise inthe quality topic being tested.
After the initial training period, the volunteers formteams or small groups that focus on specific topics inthe BOK. The teams are given forms on which to writetheir questions. The forms require the item writer toidentify the major area of the BOK, subtopic and sub-subtopic being tested for each question written.
The forms also require a reference that supports thecorrect answer to the question, including author, title,edition and page number. Each question must belinked to a reference book listed in the brochure for
C e r t i f i e d Q u a l i t y T e c h n i c i a n
The certified quality technician (CQT) is a paraprofessional who, in support of
and under the direction of quality engineers or supervisors, analyzes and solves
quality problems, prepares inspection plans and instructions, selects sampling
plan applications, prepares procedures, trains inspectors, performs audits, ana-
lyzes quality costs and other quality data, and applies fundamental statistical
methods for process control.
Body of knowledge
The following is an outline of the topics that constitute the body of knowledge
for quality technicians:
Quality concepts and tools.
Statistical techniques. Metrology and calibration.
Inspection and test.
Quality audits.
Preventive and corrective action.
Exam dates for 2000 Application deadlines
AQC administration May 7 April 21
October 21 August 25
Certified
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Since the whole point of taking an
ASQ certification exam is to pass it,
many questions arise about how the
passing grade for any given exam is
determined and what adjustments are
made to ensure that one version of an
exam is no harder, or easier, than any
other one.
The passing grade, or cut point, is
established through a standard setting
process known as a cut score study.
The methodology used on ASQ
exams is called a Modified Angoff and
is based on the work of the late
William Angoff, a renowned measure-
ment research statistician at the
Educational Testing Service in
Princeton, NJ.
The cut point for an ASQ exam is
established each time a new body of
knowledge (BOK) is created or major
revisions are made to an existing
BOK. The cut score process begins
when a panel of 12 to 15 subject mat-
ter experts, also called judges, is
convened.
The panels first task is to set the
performance standard for the exam,
which is the consensus set of charac-
teristics that the judges expect of a
minimally qualified or borderline can-
didate in relation to the BOK. The
distinction regarding borderline candi-
dates is key to understanding the cut
score process, as it ultimately draws a
very fine line between candidates who
are qualified to be certified and those
who are not. The expectations for per-
formance, therefore, need to be
clearly stated and agreed to by all of
the participants in the cut score study.
Once that list of characteristics is
developed, the subject matter experts
use it as a guide to help them rate
each question on the test in terms of
what proportion of 100 such border-
line candidates will get the answer
right. For example, the judges may
agree that borderline candidates will
know a particular topic in the BOK
very well when asked a definition
question, and therefore they may esti-
mate that 85% to 90% will get it right.
But the same candidates will be much
more challenged in that topic when
required to apply a specific formula to
get the correct answer (resulting in
estimates of 35% to 45% correct).
Although the judges dont actually
have to take the test, they are asked to
record their individual scores on the
items without having access to the
answer key. These first scores, which
are an estimate in percent of how
many borderline candidates will get
the right answer to a question, are
then summarized and presented to the
full panel, which reviews them item by
item this time with the answer key.
If any judges score is significantly
different from that of the rest of the
group, the outlier is asked to defend
that position, and the other judges are
invited to respond. All of the judges are
asked to reconsider their score on the
basis of the discussion, whether they
that certification.Once an item has been written, it is reviewed by the
four or five other members of the team, reworked asneeded and then submitted to the workshop facilitator
and chair who check the item for completeness, accura-cy of BOK link, consistency of style and other concerns.
After the questions have been created and reviewedat the item writing meeting, they are entered into adatabase designed expressly for the test developmentprocesses. At this point in their development, thequestions are classified in the system as raw.
The next stage in the exam development process isto convene another panel of 12 subject matter expertswho meet for two days to review those raw questions,verify the reference and the BOK classification, and,most important, agree that there is one, and only one,correct answer.
This additional, intensive process of review, revi-sion and rework is designed to ensure that alllanguage ambiguities have been eliminated and that
questions have been phrased and presented as clearlyas possible without teaching or unintentionally clue-ing the correct answer through word matching orother cues. The items are also reviewed to ensure that
they arent biased in favor of any one industry.Questions that survive this phase of review are
revised in the exam bank and their status is changedfrom raw to approved. An item can be selectedfor use in a test only if it has survived these two initialphases of development.
Testing the test
The next phase in the process is the exam reviewmeeting at which another 12 volunteers are asked toparticipate. Prior to the meeting, a draft test is assem-bled and sent to the volunteers to take the test andprovide feedback, not only on individual questionsbut on how the exam looks as a whole in terms of cov-ering the appropriate BOK, the types of questionspresented and the order in which they appear.
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were within range or were outliers.
The results of this two-day cut
score study are then presented to the
Certification Board. The report
includes the written performance
standard that was developed along
with the judges estimate of the diffi-
culty of the exam. This estimate is
derived from the mean score of all of
the judges for each item on the exam.
This figure is presented as the rec-
ommended cut point for the exam. For
example, on one test, the mean of the
judges expectations might be 67%; on
another test, that mean might be 74%.
In both instances, the figure reflects
the collective opinion of the cut score
panel, taking into account the expect-
ed performance of the borderline
candidates and the relative difficulty of
the exam. Once that cut point is estab-
lished by board approval, it becomes
the minimum raw score necessary to
earn certification in that BOK.
Although this raw score is a specific
number of questions correct for the
first exam under a BOK, it is converted
to a scaled score on the score report,
to allow adjustments for exam difficul-
ty on subsequent forms of the test.
This scaled score of 550 always repre-
sents the minimum standard of
performance for all ASQ certification
exams.
The goal of ensuring that two ver-
sions of the same exam have the
equivalent degree of difficulty is
achieved through a process known as
common item equating. Here ASQ
selects a set of questions from the
previous exam and embeds them in
the next exam. This set of questions,
called equaters, is a kind of miniexam
in that the questions are representa-
tive of the previous exams difficulty
level (some easy, some hard, some in
the middle) and cover areas of the
BOK proportionately. ASQ then devel-
ops the rest of the test with different
questions, some new and some previ-
ously used. This way ASQ can admin-
ister almost entirely new tests and still
measure key differences between
them and older versions.
For example, on Test 1, the mean
score of the candidates is 111; on Test
2, their mean score is 108. Before
making any adjustments to the cut
point based on differences in exam
difficulty, more information is needed
about the two candidate groups. To
gather that information, comparisons
are made between the performance of
the two groups on the common items
(equaters) in the two tests. If the two
groups perform equally well on the
equaters, then it is safe to conclude
that Test 2 is in fact harder than Test 1.
Only then is the cut point adjusted to
offset the effects of that more difficult
exam. Through this method, both
tests will fairly assess the candidates
abilities while maintaining a consis-
tent scaled score of 550 to pass.
Candidates shouldnt worry about
whether they will get a hard test or an
easy test. If they get a hard test, they
wont have to get as many questions
right to meet the standard. If they get
an easy test, they will have to get
more of those easy questions right in
order to meet the standard.
C e r t i f i e d Q u a l i t y M a n a g e r
The certified quality manager is a professional who understands quality
standards and concepts, can implement organizational assessments, and can
maintain customer satisfaction and focus. The certified quality manager should
manage projects supporting strategic objectives and motivate human
resources in the support of organizational goals.
Body of knowledge
The following is an outline of the topics that constitute the body of knowl-edge for quality managers:
Quality standards.
Organizations and their functions.
Quality needs and overall strategic plans.
Customer satisfaction and focus.
Project management.
Continuous improvement.
Human resources management.
Training and education.
C
ertif
ied
Exam dates for 2000 Application deadlines
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October 21 August 25
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38I
Q U A L I T Y P R O G R E S SI
A P R I L 2 0 0 0
The challenging part of becoming certified should be
in the preparation and learning stage. The test itself will
only measure how effective ones preparation has been.
And when the time comes to try for an ASQ certifica-
tion, there is no shortage of ways to get ready: study
groups, exam preparation manuals, refresher courses. In
addition, certification candidates may want to consider
two additional steps: talking to people who have passed a
cert exam and reviewing some of the basic strategies for
taking standardized tests.
Quality Progressasked for advice from the 19 ASQ
members who maintain all seven certifications. They pro-
vided the following tips.
It is helpful to study with others so you can draw from
the knowledge and experience of the group. Others mayprovide insight you may not have on a given problem or sit-
uation, says Phil Sands, a member of the technical staff at
Lucent Technologies in Naperville, IL.
A section-sponsored refresher course is certain to be
the best bet, even if you have to go to a nearby section
because your own doesnt offer one, adds Philip Stein,
principal consultant at P. G. Stein Consultants, in
Pennington, NJ.
I try to work five or more problems for every one that
will be on the test. For a 200 problem test, I work at least
1,000 problems, advises Steven A. Arndt, acting chief of
the control instrumentation and human factors branch in
the research office of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
in Washington.
If you are interested in obtaining two or more certifi-
cations, be aware that some exam subjects are harder
than others. Start with the easier exam and work your
way up, adds William C. Meyer, quality manager for
Mercury Marine in El Paso, TX.
Although there are some limitations, certification can-
didates are allowed to bring reference materials to the
exam. Tab your references very clearly and profusely,
says Bill Klodt, a quality engineer for Sonopress LLC in
Weaverville, NC. The quicker you can find a subject that
you need, the quicker you can get on with the rest of the
questions.
Interview several people who took the exam and
check with your local ASQ section for exam refresher
courses, suggests John W. Jennings III, a reliability
engineer at Marconi Communications in Irving, TX.
John H. Bille, president and chief operating officer for
Quality Services International in Richardson, TX, is cau-
tious in his approach. Dont plan on passing your first
time, he warns. Go to learn the environment and how
the questions are asked. Then, plan on passing every test
Tips for Taking the Exams
ASQ CertificationBy the Numbers
Total number of active certifications: 85,857
Top 10 countries by total certifications:
United States.........78,782
Canada.....................3,321
Brazil...........................902
Israel...........................472
Singapore...................281
Spain...........................278
Trinidad and Tobago..275
Hong Kong.................189
Malaysia.....................182
Mexico........................151
Certifications ranked by number of active holders:
Certified quality engineer................29,143
Certified quality auditor...................20,345
Certified quality technician..............14,363
Certified quality manager..................... 9,123
Certified mechanical inspector.........7,970
Certified reliability engineer..............3,118
Certified software quality engineer......1,795
Top three states ranked by total certifications:
Michigan............7,355
California...........6,026
Texas..................5,078
Top three sections ranked by total certifications
Greater Detroit.......3,036
Minnesota..............1,958
Chicago..................1,588
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Marilyn Schmid, an ASQ certification staff member, assists
exam proctor Ronald T. Moore (left) of ASQs Indianapolis
Section 903 and an exam candidate during certification exams
at last years Annual Quality Congress in Anaheim, CA.
Q U A L I T Y P R O G R E S SI
A P R I L 2 0 0 0I
39
after that the first time.
John A. Conte, senior principal consultant at Keane
Inc., which is also in Irving, makes a similar point. No
matter how you feel about your preparation, take the
exam. It will serve as a great benchmark.
Test takers are also advised to keep in mind these gen-
eral pointers about standardized exams:
Read all of the questions on the first page of the test soyou realize that you do know the material. In other
words, relax.
Read each question thoroughly. Dont assume youknow whats being asked.
Eliminate implausible answers and move quickly pastthe obviously wrong choices.
Keep in mind that an answer may be a correct state-ment in itself but may not answer the question. Two
answers may say exactly the opposite or be very simi-
lar. Read them again to decide what makes one correct
and the other wrong.
Answer every question. There is no penalty for guess-ing, and you have a 25% chance of getting it right.
Go through and answer the questions you know. Thengo through and read the ones youre unsure of. Mark
those you are still not uncomfortable with. You will nar-
row the field down to just a few questions you will
need to spend more time on. These are the questions
you might want to use your reference books for.
Be aware of the time available for the exam and theremaining time as you work through the exam.
C e r t i f i e d M e c h a n i c a l I n s p e c t o r
The certified mechanical inspector (CMI) is a paraprofessional whoin sup-
port of and under the direction of quality engineers, supervisors or
technicianscan use in a responsible manner the proven techniques included in
the body of knowledge. Under professional direction, the mechanical inspector
evaluates hardware documentation, performs laboratory procedures, inspects
products, measures process performance, records data and prepares formal
reports.
Body of knowledge
The following is an outline of the topics that constitute the body of knowledge
for mechanical inspectors:
Technical mathematics.
Inspection and test.
Measurement tools.
Statistical techniques.
Quality improvement.
Exam dates for 2000 Application deadlines
AQC administration May 7 April 21
October 21 August 25Certified
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By the time an exam makes it through this process,each question on the test has been reviewed andapproved by dozens of qualified professionals. Andyet, despite the best efforts of all of these individuals,
there are questions on the test that do not performwellquestions that, at least in the eyes of the candi-dates, are not clearly stated.
These problem items are identified through statisti-cal analysis that is conducted after each administrationof a test. Each item in the exam is reviewed to seewhether it discriminates well between candidates whoscored high on the test and those who scored low.When a question does not show a positive correlationin this measure, it is reviewed again by the chair of theexam committee and the ASQ test development staff todetermine whether it is sufficiently problematic to
warrant giving everyone credit for the question.
The grading process
Just as great care is taken in developing an exam,ASQ goes to significant lengths to ensure that thegrading provides an accurate assessment of a candi-dates proficiency. ASQ uses procedures that aremodeled on the Standards for Educational andPsychological Testing, which were developed jointlyby the American Educational Research Association,the American Psychological Association and theNational Council on Measurement in Education (seeASQ Uses Cut Score Process, p. 36).
To ensure that ASQ certification retains its status asa hallmark of excellence, the Certification Board isengaged in a process of continuous improvement. Allthe existing certifications are regularly re-examined toensure their relevancy. In addition, the board is devel-
oping new kinds of certifications to reflect changes in
40I
C e r t i f i e d R e l i a b i l i t y E n g i n e e r
The certified reliability engineer (CRE) is a professional who understands the
principles of performance evaluation and prediction to improve product/systems
safety, reliability and maintainability. This body of knowledge and applied tech-
nologies include design review and control; prediction, estimation and
apportionment methodology; failure mode effects and analysis; the planning,
operation and analysis of reliability testing and field failures, including mathe-matical modeling; understanding human factors in reliability; and the ability to
develop and administer reliability information systems for failure analysis, design
and performance improvement; and reliability program management over the
entire product life cycle.
Body of knowledge
The following is an outline of the topics that constitute the body of knowledge
for reliability engineers:
Reliability management.
Probability and statistical tools.
Modeling and prediction.
Data collection and analysis and corrective action. Reliability tools in design and development.
Maintainability and availability.
Reliability testing.
Product safety and liability.
Exam dates for 2000 Application deadlines
AQC administration May 7 April 21
October 21 August 25Cer
tified
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the use of quality tools in industry and society as awhole.
For example, the Certification Board recentlyapproved an add-on to the certified quality auditor
exam that covers the Hazard Analysis and CriticalControl Point standards used in the food processingand biomedical industries. The first of these examswill be offered this September. A separate add-on isbeing created for the biomedicalindustry, and other industry spe-cific add-ons are also underconsideration.
The board is also working on anew certification that covers thebasics of quality. This is beingdeveloped in response to the evo-
lution of total qualitymanagement, which has takenquality from being the soleresponsibility of a small group ofspecialists and made it a part ofevery employees job.
This new certification willposition ASQ as an importantresource for education, trainingand professional recognition innew areas of the workplace, espe-cially in the service sectors suchas health care and other nonman-
ufacturing arenas.In summary, the process used
to establish the BOK for an exam
JOHN W. MORAN is a director at
CareGroup Inc. in Boston. He is a certi-
fie d qu al ity ma na ge r an d an AS Q
Fellow. He serves as chair of the
Certification Board.
PATRICIA C. LA LONDE is senior man-
ager for corporate supplier quality atALARIS Medical Systems Inc. in San
Diego. She is a certified quality auditor,
certified quality engineer, certified quali-
ty manager, certified quality technician
and an ASQ Fellow. She serves as vice
chair of the Certification Board.
and the processes used to create the individualexams follow very deliberate procedures to ensurethe integrity of the exam and to reflect what indus-tries need from their quality professionals.
ASQ believes the integrity of the exams is a key fac-tor in why companies like ALARIS rely on them as afoundation for training and assessing their qualitystaff.
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QP