American Society For Quality: Lessons For School Leaders
What Is the American Society for Quality?
The American Society for Quality (ASQ) is the world's leading professional association dedicated to advancing quality management practices worldwide, founded on February 16, 1946, by 253 members from 17 quality-related societies and now serving over 60,000 members across 130 countries with headquarters at 600 N Plankinton Ave, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201.
ASQ's Core Mission and Global Impact
ASQ advances individual, organizational, and community excellence worldwide through learning, quality improvement, and knowledge dissemination, serving as the global authority on quality for 79 years since its post-World War II origins when quality experts sought to sustain wartime quality-improvement techniques.
The organization provides industry-leading certifications, comprehensive training programs, networking opportunities, research access, and conferences focused on quality improvement, with ASQ-certified professionals helping organizations achieve higher efficiency, compliance, and customer satisfaction.
Key ASQ Certification Programs for Education Professionals
ASQ offers globally recognized certifications that validate expertise in quality control, process improvement, and Six Sigma methodologies, with specific applications for educational institutions seeking quality management systems.
- Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) - Focuses on quality control principles, reliability engineering, and statistical process control; exam fee $550 with 175 multiple-choice questions over 5 hours 18 minutes
- Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) - Designed for professionals leading Six Sigma projects and process optimization initiatives
- Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (CSSGB) - Ideal for professionals involved in Six Sigma implementation and team leadership
- Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) - Leadership-focused certification for quality management professionals in educational administration
- Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) - Helps professionals assess quality systems and compliance with ISO standards including ISO 9001
- Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA) - Introduced in 2001, provides foundational quality improvement knowledge
ASQ's Historical Evolution and Milestones
ASQ traces its origins to the end of World War II, evolving from industrial quality control to broad organizational excellence across manufacturing, healthcare, education, and service industries.
- 1946 - The American Society for Quality Control formed on February 16; George Edwards elected president; first publication "Industrial Quality Control" launched; Toronto Section chartered December 15 as first international section
- 1968 - First certification examinations held for quality engineers; "Quality Progress" magazine replaced "Industrial Quality Control"
- 1987 - Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award established with ASQC as co-administrator
- 1997 - ASQC dropped "Control" from name, became ASQ, adopted new mission to promote performance excellence worldwide
- 1998 - ASQ rolled out Six Sigma black belt training for individuals and organizations
- 2004 - ASQ's International Six Sigma Program expanded into Latin America with Spanish-language courses; ASQ Costa Rica became first International Member Unit outside North America
- 2021 - ASQ celebrated 75 years of serving the global quality community
ASQ in Education: Quality Standards for Schools
ASQ has developed specific resources for educational institutions, including the "Koalaty Kid: A Commitment to Quality in Elementary Education" program and books like "Schools of Quality-An Introduction to Total Quality Management in Education" by John J. Bonstingl.
Research demonstrates that ISO 9000:2000 quality management standards provide a useful structure successfully adapted for education, with Monticello High School in Virginia demonstrating close alignment with ISO 9000 standards through its operations addressing management responsibility, resource management, product realization, and measurement.
| ASQ Education Resource | Publication Year | Target Audience |
|---|---|---|
| Koalaty Kid Manual | 1991 | Elementary education |
| Schools of Quality (Bonstingl) | 1992 | School administrators |
| The Quality School (Glasser) | 1992 | Teachers and administrators |
| A Quality System for Education (Spanbauer) | 1992 | School systems |
| Continuous Quality Improvement Tools for Effective Teaching (Cornesky) | 1995 | Classroom teachers |
Relevance to Marist Education in Latin America
For Marist schools across Brazil and Latin America-part of the 600 Marist schools worldwide strengthening Marist education values of presence, simplicity, and solidarity-ASQ's quality management frameworks offer evidence-based analysis and practical insights for school leadership aligned with holistic educational mission.
ASQ's 2004 expansion into Latin America with Spanish-language Six Sigma courses through local training partners demonstrates the organization's commitment to serving diverse Latin American communities with culturally appropriate quality improvement resources.
School administrators seeking curriculum innovation and governance excellence can leverage ASQ's Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence certification to implement systematic improvement while maintaining the spiritual and social mission central to Catholic education.
Expert answers to American Society For Quality Lessons For School Leaders queries
What is the American Society for Quality primarily known for?
ASQ is primarily known for being the world's leading authority on quality since 1946, providing globally recognized certifications (including Six Sigma Black Belt, Certified Quality Engineer), training programs, and quality management resources to over 60,000 members in 130 countries.
How does ASQ certification benefit school administrators?
ASQ certification validates expertise in quality management, enhances career growth as employers prefer certified professionals, provides networking with quality experts, offers continuing education on emerging trends, and supports organizational excellence through improved efficiency and compliance.
Can ISO 9000 standards be applied to education?
Yes, ISO 9000:2000 quality management standards provide a useful structure successfully adapted for education, with proven implementation at schools like Monticello High School in Virginia addressing management responsibility, resource management, curriculum alignment, and accountability measurement.
When was ASQ founded and where is it headquartered?
ASQ was founded on February 16, 1946, by 253 members from 17 quality-related societies, and is headquartered at 600 N Plankinton Ave, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201-3066, USA.
Does ASQ offer resources for Latin American educators?
Yes, ASQ expanded into Latin America in 2004 with Spanish-language Six Sigma courses through local training partners, and ASQ Costa Rica became the first International Member Unit outside North America that year.
What is the cost of ASQ certification exams?
Exam fees vary by certification; the Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) exam costs $550 with $350 for retakes, Computer-based Testing windows occur six times yearly (next window June 1-30, 2026, with application deadline May 15, 2026).
