CMQ-OE Study Areas

In general, ASQ tests a candidate's knowledge of the seven core domains listed below. Understandably, candidates are expected to be familiar with the topics prior to attempting the validation.

• Strategic Plan Development and Deployment

  This section mainly tests the understanding of strategic planning models, the business environment, and strategic plan deployment. In particular, candidates should be familiar with market forces, risk analysis, stakeholder analysis, internal analysis, the role of technology and legal factors, resource allocation and deployment, quality, and organizational performance.

• Supply Chain Management

  Under such a topic, candidates are expected to have a sound understanding of all aspects of supply chain management. This includes supplier selection, supplier communication, supplier performance and improvement, supplier certification, and supplier logistics.

• Leadership

  The candidate's knowledge of leadership techniques, teamwork, organizational structures, and ASQ code of ethics will be tested here. Furthermore, the candidate's understanding of the challenges faced by leaders, the roles and responsibilities of leaders alongside managers, change management techniques, types and roles of teams, team development stages, and team evaluation will be looked at.

• Management Elements and Methods

  This portion tests all areas of management including human resource management, finance management, risk management, and knowledge management. It also checks the candidate's knowledge of communications skills, project management, quality system, quality models, and theories.

• Quality Management Tools

  There, the candidate will be tested on the various quality management tools including process improvement tools, basic management tools, innovation & creativity tools, and lean instruments. The candidate will also be expected to have a good understanding of measurement and metrics, which encompasses areas such as statistics, sampling techniques, and trend analysis.

• Training and Development

  This domain evaluates the candidate's ability to create training plans and develop training materials, use different tools along with techniques to identify training needs and assess training effectiveness.

• Customer-Focused Organizations

  This objective mainly assesses the candidate's knowledge of the different types of customers, customer segmentation, and customer relationship management including customer satisfaction and loyalty, principles for services, dealing with external and internal customers, and finally, focus group output.

Areas Tested in ASQ CMQ/OE

The CMQ/OE evaluation validates the candidates' skills on the following topics:

• Understanding the elements that are part of supply chain management;
• Developing and deploying a strategic plan that helps any organization improve its performance;
• Identifying and segmenting customers, together with managing customer relationship;
• Understanding how to design an organizational structure, overpassing leadership challenges, defining teams and processes, and adhering to the ASQ Code of ethics;
• Using diverse tools that help in quality management;
• Developing training plans and identifying the most effective materials that can improve the team’s performance.
• Managing skills and abilities, as well as developing advanced communication and project management;

ASQ CMQ-OE Exam Syllabus Topics:

Reference: http://asq.org/cert/manager-of-quality