ASQ CQT BOK

Page 1 of 8
BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
CERTIFIED QUALITY TECHNICIAN
The topics in this Body of Knowledge include additional detail in the form of subtext explanations and the
cognitive level at which the questions will be written. This information will provide useful guidance for
both the Exam Development Committee and the candidate preparing to take the exam. The subtext is not
intended to limit the subject matter or be all-inclusive of what might be covered in an exam. It is meant to
clarify the type of content to be included in the exam. The descriptor in parentheses at the end of each entry
refers to the maximum cognitive level at which the topic will be tested. A complete description of cognitive
levels is provided at the end of this document.
I. QUALITY CONCEPTS AND TOOLS
A. Quality Concepts

1. Customers and suppliers

Define internal and external customers, identify their expectations, and determine
their satisfaction levels; define internal and external suppliers and key elements of
relations with them. (Comprehension)

1. Quality principles for products and processes

Identify basic quality principles related to products (such as features, fitness-for-use,
freedom from defects, etc.) and processes (such as monitoring, measuring, continuous
improvement, etc.). (Co mprehension)

1. Quality standards, requirements, and specifications

Define and distinguish between quality standards, requirements, and specifications.
(Comprehension)

1. Cost of quality (COQ)

Describe the four classic cost of quality (COQ) categories and their uses.
(Comprehension)
NOTE: Specific distinctions between prevention, appraisal, internal and external
failure costs will not be covered.

1. Six sigma

Identify key components of six sigma such as belt levels, tools, types of projects,
processes used, etc. (Knowledge)

1. Continuous improvement techniques

Define and apply the principles of various continuous improvement techniques
including the PDCA cycle, lean manufacturing, brainstorming, benchmarking, etc., to
solve various quality problems. (Application)
B. Quality Tools
Select, construct, apply, and interpret the seven quality tools: cause and effect diagrams,
flow charts (process maps), check sheets, Pareto diagrams, scatter diagrams, control charts,
and histograms. (Synthesis)
Page 2 of 8
C. Team Functions

1. Meeting management

Define, describe, and apply various meeting management techniques such as creating
and following an agenda, recording and distributing minutes, establishing ground
rules and protocols, etc. (Application)

1. Team development

Define, describe, and train team members in the basic elements of team-building,
including the importance of diversity and team member participation, how to use
creative-thinking tools like brainstorming, and use various tools to achieve consensus,
etc. (Application)

1. Team stages

Describe the evolutionary stages of teams: forming, storming, norming, and
performing. (Application)

1. Globalization

Define and describe the impact globalization has on team-related issues such as
developing and participating on virtual teams, using electronic communications to
support distant collaboration, etc. (Comprehension)
II. STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES
A. General Concepts

1. Terminology

Identify and differentiate between statistical terms such as population, sample,
parameter, statistic, statistical process control, statistical quality control, etc.
(Comprehension)

1. Frequency distributions

Define and compute normal, Poisson, and binomial frequency distributions.
(Application)

1. Design of experiments (DOE)

Define and recognize the basic elements of DOE, including terms such as blocking,
randomization, etc. (Knowledge)

1. Reliability

Define concepts such as mean time to failure (MTTF), mean time between failures
(MTBF), and mean time between maintenance actions (MTBMA), and recognize
failure models such as bathtub curve, prediction, growth, etc. (Knowledge)
B. Calculations

1. Measures of central tendency

Define, compute, and interpret mean, median, and mode. (Application)

1. Measures of dispersion

Define, compute, and interpret standard deviation, range, and variance. (Application)

1. Statistical inference

Determine, calculate, and apply confidence levels in various situations. (Analysis)
Page 3 of 8

1. Confidence limits

Determine, calculate, and apply confidence limits in various situations. (Application)

1. Probability

Calculate probability using the basic concepts of combinations, permutations, and
area under the normal curve. (Application)

1. Student’s t

Describe how and why t tests are used. (Comprehension)

1. Analysis of variance (ANOVA)

Define and determine the applicability of ANOVAs. (Comprehension)
C. Control Charts

1. Techniques and applications

Select control charts that are appropriate for monitoring or analyzing a process and
explain their construction and use. (Application)

1. Control limits vs. specification limits

Identify and describe the different uses of control limits and specification limits.
(Comprehension)

1. Variables charts

Identify, select, construct, and interpret variables charts such as R X - , s X - , etc.
(Analysis)

1. Attributes charts

Identify, select, construct, and interpret attributes charts such as p, np, c, u, etc.
(Analysis)

1. Rational subgroups

Define and describe the principles of rational subgroups. (Comprehension)

1. Process capability measures

Define the prerequisites for capability, and calculate and interpret Cp, Cpk, and
capability ratio (CR) in various situations. (Analysis)

1. Machine capability measures

Determine machine capability in various situations, and describe its contribution to
process capability. (Application)

1. PRE-control chart

Describe the concept of PRE-control and construct and interpret PRE-control charts.
(Application)

1. Common and special cause variation

Interpret various control chart patterns (runs, hugging, trends, etc.) and use rules for
determining statistical control to distinguish between common cause and special
cause variation. (Analysis)

1. Data plotting

Identify the advantages and limitations of using this method to analyze data visually
instead of numerically. (Comprehension)
Page 4 of 8
III. METROLOGY AND CALIBRATION
A. Measurement and Test Equipment (M&TE)
Describe, select, and use the following types of tools, and evaluate their measurement
results to determine conformance to specifications. (Evaluation)

1. Hand tools (e.g., calipers, micrometers, linear scales)
2. Gages (e.g., pins, thread, custom gages)
3. Optical tools (e.g., comparators, profiles, microscopes)
4. Coordinate measuring machines (CMM)
5. Electronic measuring equipment (e.g., digital displays, output)
6. Weights, balances, and scales
7. Hardness testing equipment (e.g., Brinell, Rockwell)
8. Surface plate methods and equipment
9. Surface analyzers (e.g., optical flats, roughness testers)
10. Force measurement tools (e.g., torque wrenches, tensiometers)
11. Angle measurement tools (e.g., protractors, sine bars, angle blocks)
12. Color measurement tools (e.g., spectrophotometer, color guides, light boxes)
13. Gage maintenance, handling, and storage

B. Calibration

1. Measurement and test equipment (M&TE) identification and inventory

Describe methodologies for M&TE identification, control, and traceability to specific
standards. (Application)

1. Gage repeatability and reproducibility (R&R) studies

Describe the purpose and use of gage R&R studies. (Application)
NOTE: The components of gage R&R are covered in area IV.B.3.

1. Calibration intervals

Use M&TE usage history and gage R&R data to establish calibration intervals.
(Application)

1. Calibration error

Identify the causes of calibration error (i.e., environmental influences) and its effect
on processes and products. (Comprehension)

1. Customer-supplied M&TE

Describe and apply requirements for validation and control of customer-supplied
equipment. (Application)
IV. INSPECTION AND TEST
A. Blueprint Reading and Interpretation

1. Blueprint symbols and components