CQE- Certified Quality Engineer Training

I. Management and Leadership (15 Questions)
A. Quality Philosophies and Foundations
Explain how modern quality has evolved from quality control through statistical process control (SPC) to total quality management and leadership principles (including Deming’s 14 points), and how quality has helped form various continuous improvement tools including lean, six sigma, theory of constraints, etc. (Remember)
B. The Quality Management System (QMS)

1. Strategic planning
Identify and define top management’s responsibility for the QMS, including establishing policies and objectives, setting organization-wide goals, supporting quality initiatives, etc. (Apply)
2. Deployment techniques
Define, describe, and use various deployment tools in support of the QMS: benchmarking, stakeholder identification and analysis, performance measurement tools, and project management tools such as PERT charts, Gantt charts, critical path method (CPM), resource allocation, etc. (Apply)
3. Quality information system (QIS)
Identify and define the basic elements of a QIS, including who will contribute data, the kind of data to be managed, who will have access to the data, the level of flexibility for future information needs, data analysis, etc. (Remember)
C. ASQ Code of Ethics for Professional Conduct
Determine appropriate behavior in situations requiring ethical decisions. (Evaluate)
D. Leadership Principles and Techniques
Describe and apply various principles and techniques for developing and organizing teams and leading quality initiatives. (Analyze)
E. Facilitation Principles and Techniques
Define and describe the facilitator’s role and responsibilities on a team. Define and apply various tools used with teams, including brainstorming, nominal group technique, conflict resolution, force-field analysis, etc. (Analyze)
F. Communication Skills
Describe and distinguish between various communication methods for delivering information and messages in a variety of situations across all levels of the organization. (Analyze)
G. Customer Relations
Define, apply, and analyze the results of customer relation measures such as quality function deployment (QFD), customer satisfaction surveys, etc. (Analyze)
H. Supplier Management
Define, select, and apply various techniques including supplier qualification, certification, evaluation, ratings, performance improvement, etc. (Analyze)
I. Barriers to Quality Improvement
Identify barriers to quality improvement, their causes and impact, and describe methods for overcoming them. (Analyze)

II. The Quality System (15 Questions)
A. Elements of the Quality System
Define, describe, and interpret the basic elements of a quality system, including planning, control, and improvement, from product and process design through quality cost systems, audit programs, etc. (Evaluate)
B. Documentation of the Quality System
Identify and apply quality system documentation components, including quality policies, procedures to support the system, configuration management and document control to manage work instructions, quality records, etc. (Apply)
C. Quality Standards and Other Guidelines
Define and distinguish between national and international standards and other requirements and guidelines, including the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA), and describe key points of the ISO 9000 series of standards and how they are used. [Note: Industry-specific standards will not be tested.] (Apply)
D. Quality Audits

1. Types of audits
Describe and distinguish between various types of quality audits such as product, process, management (system), registration (certification), compliance (regulatory), first, second, and third party, etc. (Apply)
2. Roles and responsibilities in audits
Identify and define roles and responsibilities for audit participants such as audit team (leader and members), client, auditee, etc. (Understand)
3. Audit planning and implementation
Describe and apply the steps of a quality audit, from the audit planning stage through conducting the audit, from the perspective of an audit team member. (Apply)
4. Audit reporting and follow up
Identify, describe, and apply the steps of audit reporting and follow up, including the need to verify corrective action. (Apply)
E. Cost of Quality (COQ)
Identify and apply COQ concepts, including cost categories, data collection methods and classification, and reporting and interpreting results. (Analyze)
F. Quality Training
Identify and define key elements of a training program, including conducting a needs analysis, developing curricula and materials, and determining the program’s effectiveness. (Apply)

III. Product and Process Design (25 Questions)
A. Classification of Quality Characteristics
Define, interpret, and classify quality characteristics for new products and processes. [Note: The classification of product defects is covered in IV.B.3.] (Evaluate)
B. Design Inputs and Review
Identify sources of design inputs such as customer needs, regulatory requirements, etc. and how they translate into design concepts such as robust design, QFD, and Design for X (DFX, where X can mean six sigma (DFSS), manufacturability (DFM), cost (DFC), etc.). Identify and apply common elements of the design review process, including roles and responsibilities of participants. (Analyze)
C. Technical Drawings and Specifications
Interpret technical drawings including characteristics such as views, title blocks, dimensioning, tolerancing, GD&T symbols, etc. Interpret specification requirements in relation to product and process characteristics. (Evaluate)
D. Design Verification
Identify and apply various evaluations and tests to qualify and validate the design of new products and processes to ensure their fitness for use. (Evaluate)
E. Reliability and Maintainability

1. Predictive and preventive maintenance tools
Describe and apply these tools and techniques to maintain and improve process and product reliability. (Analyze)
2. Reliability and maintainability indices
Review and analyze indices such as, MTTF, MTBF, MTTR, availability, failure rate, etc. (Analyze)
3. Bathtub curve
Identify, define, and distinguish between the basic elements of the bathtub curve. (Analyze)
4. Reliability / Safety / Hazard Assessment Tools
Define, construct, and interpret the results of failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), failure mode, effects, and criticality analysis (FMECA), and fault tree analysis (FTA). (Analyze)

IV. Product and Process Control (32 Questions)
A. Tools
Define, identify, and apply product and process control methods such as developing control plans, identifying critical control points, developing and validating work instructions, etc. (Analyze)
B. Material Control

1. Material identification, status, and traceability
Define and distinguish these concepts, and describe methods for applying them in various situations. [Note: Product recall procedures will not be tested.] (Analyze)
2. Material segregation
Describe material segregation and its importance, and evaluate appropriate methods for applying it in various situations. (Evaluate)
3. Classification of defects
Define, describe, and classify the seriousness of product and process defects. (Evaluate)
4. Material review board (MRB)
Identify the purpose and function of an MRB, and make appropriate disposition decisions in various situations. (Analyze)
C. Acceptance Sampling

1. Sampling concepts
Define, describe, and apply the concepts of producer and consumer risk and related terms, including operating characteristic (OC) curves, acceptable quality limit (AQL), lot tolerance percent defective (LTPD), average outgoing quality (AOQ), average outgoing quality limit (AOQL), etc. (Analyze)
2. Sampling standards and plans
Interpret and apply ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 and Z1.9 standards for attributes and variables sampling. Identify and distinguish between single, double, multiple, sequential, and continuous sampling methods. Identify the characteristics of Dodge-Romig sampling tables and when they should be used. (Analyze)
3. Sample integrity
Identify the techniques for establishing and maintaining sample integrity. (Analyze)
D. Measurement and Test

1. Measurement tools
Select and describe appropriate uses of inspection tools such as gage blocks, calipers, micrometers, optical comparators, etc. (Analyze)
2. Destructive and non-destructive tests
Distinguish between destructive and non-destructive measurement test methods and apply them appropriately. (Analyze)
E. Metrology
Identify, describe, and apply metrology techniques such as calibration systems, traceability to calibration standards, measurement error and its sources, and control and maintenance of measurement standards and devices. (Analyze)
F. Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
Calculate, analyze, and interpret repeatability and reproducibility (Gage R&R) studies, measurement correlation, capability, bias, linearity, etc., including both conventional and control chart methods. (Evaluate)

V. Continuous Improvement (30 Questions)
A. Quality Control Tools
Select, construct, apply, and interpret tools such as 1) flowcharts, 2) Pareto charts, 3) cause and effect diagrams, 4) control charts, 5) check sheets, 6) scatter diagrams, and 7) histograms. (Analyze)
B. Quality Management and Planning Tools
Select, construct, apply, and interpret tools such as 1) affinity diagrams, 2) tree diagrams, 3) process decision program charts (PDPC), 4) matrix diagrams, 5) interrelationship digraphs, 6) prioritization matrices, and 7) activity network diagrams. (Analyze)
C. Continuous Improvement Techniques
Define, describe, and distinguish between various continuous improvement models: total quality management (TQM), kaizen, plan-do-check-act (PDCA), six sigma, theory of constraints (TOC), lean, etc. (Analyze)
D. Corrective Action
Identify, describe, and apply elements of the corrective action process including problem identification, failure analysis, root cause analysis, problem correction, recurrence control, verification of effectiveness, etc. (Evaluate)
E. Preventive Action
Identify, describe, and apply various preventive action tools such as error-proofing/poka-yoke, robust design, etc., and analyze their effectiveness. (Evaluate)

VI. Quantitative Methods and Tools (43 Questions)
A. Collecting and Summarizing Data

1. Types of data
Define, classify, and compare discrete (attributes) and continuous (variables) data. (Apply)
2. Measurement scales
Define, describe, and use nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales. (Apply)
3. Data collection methods
Describe various methods for collecting data, including tally or check sheets, data coding, automatic gaging, etc., and identify their strengths and weaknesses. (Apply)
4. Data accuracy
Describe the characteristics or properties of data (e.g., source/resource issues, flexibility, versatility, etc.) and various types of data errors or poor quality such as low accuracy, inconsistency, interpretation of data values, and redundancy. Identify factors that can influence data accuracy, and apply techniques for error detection and correction. (Apply)
5. Descriptive statistics
Describe, calculate, and interpret measures of central tendency and dispersion (central limit theorem), and construct and interpret frequency distributions including simple, categorical, grouped, ungrouped, and cumulative. (Evaluate)
6. Graphical methods for depicting relationships
Construct, apply, and interpret diagrams and charts such as stem-and-leaf plots, box-and-whisker plots, etc. [Note: Run charts and scatter diagrams are covered in V.A.] (Analyze)
7. Graphical methods for depicting distributions
Construct, apply, and interpret diagrams such as normal probability plots, Weibull plots, etc. [Note: Histograms are covered in V.A.] (Analyze)
B. Quantitative Concepts

1. Terminology
Define and apply quantitative terms, including population, parameter, sample, statistic, random sampling, expected value, etc. (Analyze)
2. Drawing statistical conclusions
Distinguish between numeric and analytical studies. Assess the validity of statistical conclusions by analyzing the assumptions used and the robustness of the technique used. (Evaluate)
3. Probability terms and concepts
Describe and apply concepts such as independence, mutually exclusive, multiplication rules, complementary probability, joint occurrence of events, etc. (Apply)
C. Probability Distributions

1. Continuous distributions
Define and distinguish between these distributions: normal, uniform, bivariate normal, exponential, lognormal, Weibull, chi square, Student’s, t, F, etc. (Analyze)
2. Discrete distributions
Define and distinguish between these distributions: binomial, Poisson, hypergeometric, multinomial, etc. (Analyze)
D. Statistical Decision-Making

1. Point estimates and confidence intervals
Define, describe, and assess the efficiency and bias of estimators. Calculate and interpret standard error, tolerance intervals, and confidence intervals. (Evaluate)
2. Hypothesis testing
Define, interpret, and apply hypothesis tests for means, variances, and proportions. Apply and interpret the concepts of significance level, power, type I and type II errors. Define and distinguish between statistical and practical significance. (Evaluate)
3. Paired-comparison tests
Define and use paired-comparison (parametric) hypothesis tests, and interpret the results. (Apply)
4. Goodness-of-fit tests
Define and use chi square and other goodness-of-fit tests, and interpret the results. (Apply)
5. Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
Define and use ANOVAs and interpret the results. (Analyze)
6. Contingency tables
Define, construct, and use contingency tables to evaluate statistical significance. (Analyze)
E. Relationships Between Variables

1. Linear regression
Calculate the regression equation for simple regressions and least squares estimates. Construct and interpret hypothesis tests for regression statistics. Use regression models for estimation and prediction, and analyze the uncertainty in the estimate. [Note: Non-linear models and parameters will not be tested.] (Analyze)
2. Simple linear correlation
Calculate the correlation coefficient and its confidence interval, and construct and interpret a hypothesis test for correlation statistics. [Note: Serial correlation will not be tested.] (Analyze)
3. Time-series analysis
Define, describe, and use time-series analysis including moving average, and interpret time-series graphs to identify trends and seasonal or cyclical variation. (Analyze)
F. Statistical Process Control (SPC)

1. Objectives and benefits
Identify and explain objectives and benefits of SPC such as assessing process performance. (Understand)
2. Common and special causes
Describe, identify, and distinguish between these types of causes. (Analyze)
3. Selection of variable
Identify and select characteristics for monitoring by control chart. (Analyze)
4. Rational subgrouping
Define and apply the principles of rational subgrouping. (Apply)
5. Control charts
Identify, select, construct, and use various control charts, including -R, -s, individuals and moving range (ImR or XmR), moving average and moving range (MamR), p, np, c, u, and CUSUM charts. (Analyze)
6. Control chart analysis
Read and interpret control charts, use rules for determining statistical control. (Evaluate)
7. PRE-control charts
Define and describe how these charts differ from other control charts and how they should be used. (Apply)
8. Short-run SPC
Identify, define, and use short-run SPC rules. (Apply)
G. Process and Performance Capability

1. Process capability studies
Define, describe, calculate, and use process capability studies, including identifying characteristics, specifications, and tolerances, developing sampling plans for such studies, establishing statistical control, etc. (Analyze)
2. Process performance vs. specifications
Distinguish between natural process limits and specification limits, and calculate percent defective. (Analyze)
3. Process capability indices
Define, select, and calculate Cp, Cpk, Cpm, and Cr, and evaluate process capability. (Evaluate)
4. Process performance indices
Define, select, and calculate Pp and Ppk and evaluate process performance. (Evaluate)
H. Design and Analysis of Experiments

1. Terminology
Define terms such as dependent and independent variables, factors, levels, response, treatment, error, and replication. (Understand)
2. Planning and organizing experiments
Define, describe, and apply the basic elements of designed experiments, including determining the experiment objective, selecting factors, responses, and measurement methods, choosing the appropriate design, etc. (Analyze)
3. Design principles
Define and apply the principles of power and sample size, balance, replication, order, efficiency, randomization, blocking, interaction, and confounding. (Apply)
4. One-factor experiments
Construct one-factor experiments such as completely randomized, randomized block, and Latin square designs, and use computational and graphical methods to analyze the significance of results. (Analyze)
5. Full-factorial experiments
Construct full-factorial designs and use computational and graphical methods to analyze the significance of results. (Analyze)
6. Two-level fractional factorial experiments
Construct two-level fractional factorial designs (including Taguchi designs) and apply computational and graphical methods to analyze the significance of results. (Analyze)

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, definitions, facts, ideas, materials, patterns, sequences, methods, principles, etc.
Understand
Read and understand descriptions, communications, reports, tables, diagrams, directions, regulations.
Apply
Know when and how to use ideas, procedures, methods, formulas, principles, theories, etc.
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.
Evaluate
Make judgments about the value of proposed ideas, solutions, etc., by comparing the proposal to specific criteria or standards.
Create
Put parts or elements together in such a way as to reveal a pattern or structure not clearly there before; identify which data or information from a complex set is appropriate to examine further or from which supported conclusions can be drawn.