Certified Quality Engineer - CQE - ASQ Practice Exam

Certified Quality Engineer - CQE - ASQ Practice Exam

The Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) is a skilled professional with a deep understanding of the principles governing the assessment and management of product and service quality. This expertise includes a wide range of knowledge and practical skills, including but not limited to: establishing and managing quality control systems, implementing and analyzing testing and inspection protocols, utilizing metrology and statistical methods to identify and rectify quality control issues, recognizing human factors and motivations, familiarity with quality cost principles and methodologies, and proficiency in developing and overseeing management information systems. Additionally, CQEs possess the capability to conduct audits of quality systems to identify and address deficiencies effectively.

Who should take the exam?

• To qualify for certification as a Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), candidates must have accumulated eight years of practical experience in one or more domains covered by the Certified Quality Engineer Body of Knowledge.
• Of these eight years, a minimum of three must involve holding a decision-making role. "Decision-making" is defined as having the authority to define, execute, or oversee projects or processes and being ultimately accountable for their outcomes. This responsibility may or may not include managerial or supervisory positions.
• If individuals have been previously certified by ASQ in roles such as Quality Auditor (CQA), Reliability Engineer (CRE), Software Quality Engineer (CSQE), Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), or Supplier Quality Professional (CSQP), the experience gained for those certifications can be applied toward fulfilling the experience requirement for the Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) certification.
• Moreover, candidates who have obtained degrees from accredited colleges, universities, or technical schools recognized by ASQ may qualify for partial waivers of the eight-year experience requirement as follows:
  • A diploma from a technical or trade school results in the waiver of one year.
  • An associate's degree results in the waiver of two years.
  • A bachelor's degree results in the waiver of four years.
  • A master's or doctorate degree results in the waiver of five years.

It's important to note that degrees or diplomas earned from educational institutions outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to those from U.S. educational institutions to qualify for these waivers. Additionally, only one waiver can be claimed per candidate.

Exam Details 

• Exam Name: Certified Quality Engineer - CQE
• Exam Languages: English
• Exam Questions: 175 Questions
• Time: 5 hours 18 minutes
• Passing Score: 550 points out of a possible 750

Course Outline 

The Exam covers the given topics  - 

Topic 1: Management and Leadership (17 Questions)

• Quality Philosophies and Foundations
• The Quality Management System (QMS)
• ASQ Code of Ethics for Professional Conduct
• Leadership Principles and Techniques
• Facilitation Principles and Techniques
• Communication Skills
• Customer Relations
• Supplier Management
• Barriers to Quality Improvement

Topic 2: The Quality System (18 Questions)

• Elements of the Quality System
• Documentation of the Quality System
• Quality Standards
• Quality Audits
• Cost of Quality (COQ)
• Quality Training

Topic 3: Product, Process, and Service Design (21 Questions)

• Classification of Quality Characteristics
• Design Inputs, Techniques, and Review
• Technical Drawings and Specifications
• Verification and Validation
• Reliability and Maintainability

Topic 4: Product and Process Control (23 Questions)

• Methods 
• Material Control
• Acceptance Sampling
• Measurement and Test
• Metrology
• Measurement System Analysis (MSA)

Topic 5: Continuous Improvement (26 Questions)

• Quality Control Tools
• Quality Management and Planning Tools
• Continuous Improvement Methodologies
• Lean tools
• Corrective Action
• Preventive Action

Topic 6: Quantitative Methods and Tools (34 Questions)

• Collecting and Summarizing Data
• Quantitative Concepts
• Probability Distributions
• Statistical Decision-Making
• Relationships Between Variables
• Statistical Process Control (SPC)
• Design and Analysis of Experiments

Topic 7: Risk Management (21 Questions)

• Risk Fundamentals
• Risk Planning and Assessment
• Risk Treatment, Control, and Monitoring