American Society for Quality

{{Short description|Knowledge-based global community of quality professionals}} {{third-party|date=December 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox organization | image = ASQOfficialLogo.png | image_alt =  | caption = | map = | predecessor = | merged_into = | successor = | formation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1946|02|16}} | extinction =  | type = Professional association | status =  | purpose = To provide the quality community with training, professional certifications, and knowledge to a vast network of members of the global quality community. | professional_title =  | headquarters = Milwaukee, Wisconsin | coordinates = {{Coord|43.03740|-87.91117|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | services = Certification, training, publications, conferences | language = | leader_title = CEO | leader_title2 = Chair | leader_name2 = Daniella Picciotti | leader_name3 = David Levy | leader_title3 = Chair-elect | leader_title4 = Treasurer | leader_name4 = Lou Ann Lathrop | key_people = | main_organ = Board of directors | parent_organization =  | subsidiaries = | affiliations = Exemplar Global, ASQExcellence | budget = | remarks = | footnotes = | name = American Society for Quality (ASQ) | former_name = American Society for Quality Control | image_border = | image_size =  | map_size =  | map_alt =  | map_caption = | map2 = | abbreviation = ASQ | founder = George D. Edwards | merger = | location = | region_served = Worldwide | membership = 30000 (approximately) | general_secretary =  | num_staff = | num_volunteers = | website = {{URL|asq.org}} }} thumb|ASQ Center in Milwaukee [[File:ASQ Registration booth 2010.jpg|thumb|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>{{Cite web|url=https://asq.org/about-asq/asq-timeline|title=The ASQ Timeline {{!}} ASQ|website=asq.org|access-date=2018-08-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archives.library.illinois.edu/asq/asqhistory.html|title=ASQ Archives - A Brief History of ASQ|website=archives.library.illinois.edu|access-date=2018-08-02}}</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, [https://asq.org/about-asq/honorary-members/feigenbaum 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>[http://aqlinspectorsrule.com/Z1-4-2013.html AQL Inspector's Rule] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035118/http://aqlinspectorsrule.com/Z1-4-2013.html |date=1 December 2017 }}, 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>{{Cite web|url=http://asq.org/newsroom/news-releases/2013/20131203-malcolm-baldrige-national-quality-award.html|title=ASQ Receives New Contract for Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award|website=asq.org|language=en-us|access-date=2018-07-26}}</ref> ASQ has administered the annual Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://asq.org/learn-about-quality/malcolm-baldrige-award/overview/overview.html | title=Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) | publisher=ASQ | access-date=18 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="JTMI">{{cite journal | url=https://scielo.conicyt.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0718-27242009000100012 | title=Measuring Excellence: A Closer Look at Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Winners in the Manufacturing Category | author=Brian Cazzell, Jeffrey M. Ulmer | journal=Journal of Technology Management & Innovation | date=May 2009 | volume=4 | issue=1 | pages=134–142 | doi=10.4067/S0718-27242009000100012 | issn=0718-2724| doi-access=free }}</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>{{cite web|url=https://asq.org/about-asq/asq-awards/shainin|title=Shainin Medal - ASQ|access-date=23 October 2016}}</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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/95206-asqs-influence|title=ASQ's Influence|website=www.qualitymag.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-09}}</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>{{Cite web|url=http://videos.asq.org/asq-certification-at-50|title=ASQ Certification at 50|website=ASQTV|language=en|access-date=2018-08-02}}</ref>

In 2016, ASQ's certification exam delivery method changed from paper to computer-based testing at Prometric nationwide testing facilities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asq.org/cert/computer-based-testing|title=Quality Certification Computer Based Testing by Prometric {{!}} ASQ|website=asq.org|access-date=2018-08-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prometric.com/en-us/clients/asq/Pages/landing.aspx|title=Home|website=www.prometric.com|language=en-us|access-date=2018-08-02}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of ASQ Certifications<ref>{{cite web |title=Certification Catalog - Get Professionally Certified {{!}} ASQ |url=https://www.asq.org/cert/catalog |website=www.asq.org |access-date=14 May 2024}}</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">{{cite web | url=http://asq.org/pub/ | title=Magazines and Journals | publisher=ASQ | date=January 2018 | access-date=20 March 2018}}</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>{{Cite web|url=http://asq.org/conferences-events.html|title=Quality Conferences and Events {{!}} ASQ|website=asq.org|language=en-us|access-date=2018-07-26}}</ref>

==See also== * European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) * Total Quality Management (TQM) * ''Technometrics''

== References == {{Reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:American Society For Quality}} Category:Organizations based in Milwaukee Category:Professional associations based in the United States Category:Quality Category:American organizations established in 1946