A '''Certified Quality Auditor''' ('''CQA''') is a professional that knows and employs the standards and principles associated with auditing. A CQA is capable of using various evaluation techniques to identify a production system's strengths and weaknesses in quality control.<ref>http://www.asq.org (Retrieved June 2007)</ref>
A quality audit is a process that involves the systematic identification and examination of a production quality system. A Certified Quality Auditor must analyze all elements of a quality system and assess its degree of adherence to the applicable industry criteria. This is described in detail in Russell.<ref>{{cite book | editor-last = Russell | editor-first = J.P. | title = The ASQ Auditing Handbook | publisher = ASQ Quality Press | edition = 4th | year = 2013 | isbn = 978-0-87389-847-8 }} </ref>
Formal CQA certification is given by the American Society for Quality (ASQ). Each CQA certification candidate needs to pass a multiple choice examination that focuses mostly on auditing practices, and measures comprehension of the ASQ Body of Knowledge (BOK), covering:
* Auditing Basics * Process of auditing * Auditor competencies * Audit program and business applications * Quality tools and techniques
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://asq.org/cert/quality-auditor ASQ Quality Auditor Certification]
Category:Auditing Category:Professional certification in quality management
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