American Society for Quality

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ASQ Center in Milwaukee

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ASQ registration booth at America's Center in St. Louis for the 2010 meeting on 24 May

The American Society for Quality (ASQ), formerly the American Society for Quality Control (ASQC), is a society of quality professionals, with more than 30,000 members, in more than 140 countries.

History

ASQC was established on 16 February 1946 by 253 members in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with George D. Edwards as its first president. The organization was first created as a way for quality experts and manufacturers to sustain quality-improvement techniques used during World War II.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1948, ASQC's Code of Ethics established standards for members to conduct their activities and business. Business writer Armand V. Feigenbaum served as president of the society in 1961–63.<ref>ASQ, A. V. Feigenbaum, accessed 27 July 2021</ref>

In 1997, the members of the organization voted to change its name from "American Society for Quality Control" to "American Society for Quality".<ref>AQL Inspector's Rule Template:Webarchive, accessed 28 November 2017</ref>

Quality

ASQ provides its members with certification, training, publications, conferences, and other services. ASQ is a founding partner of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), a quarterly economic indicator.

Since 1989,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> ASQ has administered the annual Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="JTMI">Template:Cite journal</ref> The ASQ also gives the Dorian Shainin Medal, which is awarded annually for the "Development and Application of Creative or Unique Statistical Approaches in the Solving of Problems Relative to the Quality of Product or Service".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Certifications

ASQ offers 18 professional certifications relating to various aspects of the quality profession. Professional certification exams are translated into five languages included English, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Exams are given nationally and, to a limited degree, worldwide several times annually. The body of knowledge for each certification is maintained through peer review every few years on a rotating schedule.

In 1968, the first ASQ certification was offered.<ref name="won">Newcomb, William O. "ASQ Certification: A Brief History". Quality Progress. January 2010. p. 43.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2016, ASQ's certification exam delivery method changed from paper to computer-based testing at Prometric nationwide testing facilities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

List of ASQ Certifications<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Category	Abbr.	Title	Description
Management	CMQ/OE	Certified Manager of Quality/ Organizational Excellence
Management	CSQP	Certified Supplier Quality Professional
Foundational Quality	CQIA	Certified Quality Improvement Associate
Foundational Quality	CQPA	Certified Quality Process Analyst
Inspector/Technician	CCT	Certified Calibration Technician
Inspector/Technician	CQI	Certified Quality Inspector
Inspector/Technician	CQT	Certified Quality Technician
Engineering	CQE	Certified Quality Engineer
Engineering	CRE	Certified Reliability Engineer
Engineering	CSQE	Certified Software Quality Engineer
Six Sigma	CSSBB	Certified Six Sigma Black Belt
Six Sigma	CSSGB	Certified Six Sigma Green Belt
Six Sigma	CSSYB	Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt
Six Sigma	CMBB	Certified Master Black Belt
Auditing	CFSQA	Certified Food Safety and Quality Auditor
Auditing	CMDA	Certified Medical Device Auditor
Auditing	CPGP	Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional
Auditing	CQA	Certified Quality Auditor

Publications

ASQ publishes a range of magazines and journals:<ref name="Publications">Template:Cite web</ref>

• Quality Progress
• Journal for Quality and Participation
• Journal of Quality Technology
• Quality Engineering
• Quality Management Journal
• Lean & Six Sigma Review
• Software Quality Professional
• Technometrics
• Journal for Quality Perspectives in Knowledge Acquisition
• Quality Management Forum
• Primers on Human Development and Leadership

Conferences

ASQ hosts a number of quality events and annual conferences worldwide:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM)
• Total Quality Management (TQM)
• Technometrics