ASQ has introduced the Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence.
It sound like this will simply replace the CQM. Apparently , people don't know that CQM's help improve organizational excellence, so they had to put it into the title.

From ASQ:
"As we all know, the role of quality professionals is evolving at all levels, and the role of the Quality Manager is no exception. To acknowledge this change, and to broaden the scope of the examination, the Quality Management Division surveyed current Certified Quality Managers and other recognized subject matter experts.

The survey results indicated that not only has the Body of Knowledge for Quality Managers changed, but the name of the program itself must be updated to reflect the broader scope of this position. With the approval of the ASQ Certification Board, the Certified Quality Manager program will become the new Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), effective with the March 2006 administration.

If you are a current Certified Quality Manager, you will retain that title until it is time for you to recertify. Once you meet the recertification requirements, we will send you a new card and certificate that reflects the new name of this program –Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence.

The Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) is a professional who leads and champions process improvement initiatives in small businesses or multinational corporations that can have regional or global focus in a variety of service and industrial settings. A CMQ/OE facilitates and leads team efforts to establish and monitor customer/supplier relations, supports strategic planning and deployment initiatives, and helps develop measurement systems to determine organizational improvement, etc.

The CMQ/OE should be able to motivate and evaluate staff, manage projects and human resources, analyze financial situations, determine and evaluate risk, and employ knowledge management tools and techniques in resolving organizational challenges."

"The survey results indicated that not only has the Body of Knowledge for Quality Managers changed" and "If you are a current Certified Quality Manager, you will retain that title until it is time for you to recertify. Once you meet the recertification requirements, we will send you a new card and certificate that reflects the new name of this program –Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence."

1. have recertification requirements changed?

2. will CQM/OE exams differ from current CQM exams?

3. is this a window dressing or fundamental change?

4. "people don't know that CQM's help improve organizational excellence, so they had to put it into the title"...........really? :mg:

Quite frankly, I don't see anything in the expectations/abilities listed for the new CMQ/OE that I wouldn't expect a good manager (or even a good engineer) to be doing already. If those activities weren't already covered by the CQM, why not?

I'm not privy to why ASQ is changing the name/requirements. However, if part of the reason underlying the change is a lack of name recognition or general public knowledge of what a CQM does, wouldn't it be better to educate the public and employers? When I was studying for my CQA, (if memory serves me correctly) I was told that the CQA certification preceded the CPA as the 1st certification issued by an organization. Why is the CPA so much better known, recognized, and compensated?

If the CQM is being retired/replaced, is anyone going to take the fall 2005 preparatory courses/tests knowing that they will probably have to do some sort of retest to meet the new recertification requirements? Or will ASQ simply require some sort of effective training endorsed/controlled by ASQ to do so?

Lots of questions, and the appearance of less than stellar customer service by an organization with quality as their reason for existence.

Quite frankly, I don't see anything in the expectations/abilities listed for the new CMQ/OE that I wouldn't expect a good manager (or even a good engineer) to be doing already. If those activities weren't already covered by the CQM, why not?

I'm not privy to why ASQ is changing the name/requirements. However, if part of the reason underlying the change is a lack of name recognition or general public knowledge of what a CQM does, wouldn't it be better to educate the public and employers? When I was studying for my CQA, (if memory serves me correctly) I was told that the CQA certification preceded the CPA as the 1st certification issued by an organization. Why is the CPA so much better known, recognized, and compensated?

If the CQM is being retired/replaced, is anyone going to take the fall 2005 preparatory courses/tests knowing that they will probably have to do some sort of retest to meet the new recertification requirements? Or will ASQ simply require some sort of effective training endorsed/controlled by ASQ to do so?

Lots of questions, and the appearance of less than stellar customer service by an organization with quality as their reason for existence.
The "current" implication is that exisiting CQM will automatically be granted the new designation if and when they complete their recert units.

The test for "brand new" candidates will be slightly different, just as the test is slightly different at each offering.

May I suggest interested parties go directly to the public ASQ page to learn directly from ASQ how it intends to proceed? (http://www.asq.org/cert/types/cmqoe/index.html)

Hi Wes, thanks for the reply - I picked up on the implication, but experience has made me wary of implications unless backed up by good solid information. Kind of like the old break down of assume - making an *** out of u and me. Just get a little frustated with the national at times there communication is less than stellar - the local section seems to have some good programs and interesting meeting topics, which aren't well attended for the size of the section. I'm also a member of ASM, though I haven't gone to any of their meetings in years - inconvenient locations/timing, but in the 80's when I attended them a fairly typical turnout was 50 to 100 members. If we currently get 25 for an ASQ meeting we seem to be doing good.

I felt a need to post here for two reasons. First I wanted to share with my fellow Covers that I was informed officially yesterday that I passed the CQM exam!!!! As everyone here knows, the designation for this cert will change to CMQ/OE. Since I'm now one of the last folks to get the CQM, I promise to keep all of you informed of what ASQ lets on as to recertification. I haven't gotten the cert in my grubby little hands yet but maybe there will be some info I can share with you that may come along with it when I do get it.

I know there is some controversy as to the worthiness of ASQ certs but for now I'm basking in the afterglow! I can't help but feel good about this especially since I busted butt (including 3 days vacations before the exam) studying for it so PARTYON!!