Analyzing manufacturing processes or products and recommending ways to improve them are part of a Certified Quality Engineer's work. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) certifies quality control or quality assurance professionals in 15 different areas, from biomedical to manufacturing to Six Sigma specialties. A certified quality engineer has at least eight years of experience and education combined.
Career Overview
A certified quality engineer (CQE) holds certification issued by the American Society for Quality (ASQ). She or he has the knowledge and experience to design and implement quality control systems. Statistical results from quality testing or other measures can help the engineer locate problems in the manufacturing process or in the quality assurance process. Certified quality engineers usually supervise other quality assurance professionals as well. According to PayScale.com, ASQ-certified most quality assurance engineers earned between $55,000 and $100,000 as of June 2019.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutCertifiedQualityEngineers">Important Facts About Certified Quality Engineers</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td>Required Education</td><td> Bachelor's Degree, typically in Engineering</td></tr>
<tr><td>Similar Occupations</td><td> Quality Assurance Manager, Senior Supplier Quality Engineer, Quality Engineer Mechanical Devices, Quality Control Inspector</td></tr>
<tr><td>Concentrations</td><td> Defense, Aerospace, Medical, Electronics</td></tr>
<tr><td>Key Skills</td><td> Analytical, critical thinking, organization, familiarity with quality cost concepts and techniques</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---CertificationEligibility">Certification Eligibility</h3><p>In order to become certified, a quality control engineer needs eight years of work experience in a field related to quality engineering, as defined by the American Society for Quality. At least three of those years must have been in a decision-making position. The ASQ waives one to five years of the experience requirement for post-secondary degrees.
</p><h3 id="section---ExamInformation">Exam Information</h3><p>After proving their eligibility, quality control professionals need to pass an exam administered by the ASQ. Certification expires after three years, but the certified quality engineer can renew it by taking continuing education or by retaking the exam. The exam covers the CQE Body of Knowledge, which includes:
</p><ul><li><b>Management and Leadership</b> - Quality control history, philosophy, and major techniques in total quality management or continuous improvement; the quality management system; managing and leading employee teams; customers and suppliers; ethics; and overcoming barriers to quality improvement
</li><li><b>The Quality System</b> - Components, documentation, audits, cost of quality, and designing training programs
</li><li><b>Product and Process Design</b> - Practical knowledge and analysis in the design process; interpreting technical drawings or blueprints; testing for quality at the design stage; and assessing reliability, maintainability, and safety
</li><li><b>Project Management</b> - measurement tools, material control, and sampling
</li><li><b>Continuous Improvement</b> - tools, techniques, prevention, and corrective action
</li><li><b>Quantitative Methods and Tools</b> - Data collection and analysis for accuracy, measurement scales, and statistics</li></ul>
