American Society for Quality (ASQ)

When it comes to gaining an industry certification, there are few organizations more respected than ASQ.  The American Society for Quality is a global organization headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  They have centers in Mexico, India, and China. The Society consists of member-led communities that help members connect with other quality professionals and practitioners around the world.

The company primarily focuses on training for quality professionals.  They offer training and certification in areas like management, engineering, six sigma, and auditing.

Detailed Review:

ASQ Certifications are recognized as a mark of quality excellence in organizations around the world.  If you’re looking to add a top-tier certification to your resume, you don’t get much higher.  That’s because ASQ has been at the forefront of quality for over 75 years.  At the end of World War II, manufacturers looked for ways to sustain the many quality-improvement techniques used during wartime. ASQ has played a crucial role in upholding these standards from the past while, at the same time, championing continued innovation in the field of quality.

One of the reasons ASQ certifications are highly valued is because they have a higher bar-to-entry than many other certifications.  Most ASQ certifications require a college degree and several years of experience directly related to the certification.  Some examples are below.

Certifications Offered:

Reviews.Education looked at several of ASQ’s certifications and decided to highlight three that we feel represent the organization well.

Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) –  This certification program helps someone learn the standards and principles of auditing.  Including the auditing techniques of examining, questioning, evaluating and reporting to determine a quality system’s adequacy and deficiencies.  The requirements to obtain this certification are high, with 8 Years of on-the-job experience in one or more of the areas of the Certified Quality Auditor Body of Knowledge.  Having a college degree may cut down on the time requirement.

Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) – A professional who leads and champions process-improvement initiatives – everywhere from small businesses to multinational corporations.  Quality managers are in big demand, this certification will show organizations that you’re serious about improving quality standards.

Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA) – New to the world of quality?  The Certified Quality Improvement Associate has a basic knowledge of quality tools and their uses and is involved in quality improvement projects, but doesn’t necessarily come from a traditional quality area.

Customer Service:

The reviews of ASQ’s customer service is generally positive.  They answer customer service inquiries quickly and are generally helpful.  Reviews.Education sent several customer service requests via email and all emails were replied to quickly.