American Society for Quality

American Society for Quality (ASQ)
Abbreviation	ASQ
Formation	16 February 1946; 78 years ago
Founder	George D. Edwards
Type	Professional association
Purpose	To provide the quality community with training, professional certifications, and knowledge to a vast network of members of the global quality community.
Headquarters	Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Coordinates	43°02′15″N 87°54′40″W / 43.03740°N 87.91117°W
Region served	Worldwide
Services	Certification, training, publications, conferences
Membership	40000 (approximately) (2013)
Chair	Francisco "Paco" Santos
Chair-elect	Wanda Sturm
Treasurer	Kerry Bass
Main organ	Board of directors
Affiliations	Exemplar Global, ASQExcellence
Website	asq.org
Formerly called	American Society for Quality Control

The American Society for Quality (ASQ), formerly the American Society for Quality Control (ASQC), is a society of quality professionals, with more than 40,000 members.

ASQ is a global organization with members in more than 140 countries. ASQ operates regional centers in North Asia, South Asia, and Latin America, and has established strategic alliances with organizations through the World Partners® Program^[1] in countries like Japan, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates to promote ASQ products and training.^[1]

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.^[2]^[3]

In 1948, ASQC's Code of Ethics establishes standards for members to conduct their activities and business. Business writer Armand V. Feigenbaum served as president of the society in 1961–63.^[4]

In 1997, the members of the organization voted to change its name from "American Society for Quality Control" to "American Society for Quality".^[5]

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,^[6] ASQ has administered the annual Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.^[7]^[8] 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".^[9]

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.^[10] 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.^[11]^[12]

In 2016, ASQ's certification exam delivery method changed from paper to computer-based testing at Prometric nationwide testing facilities.^[13]^[14]

List of ASQ Certifications^[15]
Category	Abbr.	Title
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