Confused about CQE certification

[awan_raza]

Hello everyone,
Before I begin preparing for the CQE, I wanted to do some thorough research. Here’s a bit of my background: I hold a master's degree in Manufacturing Engineering and have approximately 7 years of experience in parts development and production engineering in the automotive industry in Pakistan. Surprisingly, I never learned design software like Catia or Pro-E during my career because it wasn’t necessary; we had a CAD designer for that role.

I moved to the UK in 2022 and have been job hunting since then. I haven’t applied for Manufacturing Engineer positions because they require tool design skills, which I lack. Instead, I've been applying for Quality Engineer roles because I enjoyed working on ISO 9001 and TS16949 recertification audits in my previous jobs and have a solid understanding of these systems.

However, I haven't received any responses from recruiters, possibly because my resume doesn’t list a Quality Engineer title. My question is, if I obtain the ASQ CQE certification, will it help me break into the UK job market as a Quality Engineer?

 

[Randy]

My question is, if I obtain the ASQ CQE certification, will it help me break into the UK job market as a Quality Engineer?

1st question.............And your experience working as a Quality Engineer is what?

 

[Bev D]

So the CQE exam focuses on Quality engineering skills not so much on ISO quality systems management. (That is covered more strongly in the CQM certification and the CQA certification). Quality engineering skills include SPC, FMEA, DoE, and statistical analysis. In general the CQE certification is more appropriate for a manufacturing engineer. But if you are thinking that you love the QMS part of quality then you might consider pursuing the CQA and CQM certifications.

As note I’ve never seen a 1st or 2nd level position that couldn’t be filled by someone who has some experience in most of the ‘requirements’ and a great willingness to learn. After all every new level in a career ladder requires learning new skills…

No entry level position is staffed with people who are actually trained let alone experienced in quality engineering or even CAD tools.

 

[Jen Kirley]

Welcome to The Cove awan_raza!

Listen to Randy and Bev. Having knowledge and experience in Manufacturing Engineering is extremely helpful, but Quality Engineering is its own discipline. You would be starting at the beginning, as my own colleagues have done. Be aware that most employers want Quality Engineers with experience, regardless of certification. You would be competing with those who do have years "under their belt."

How far have you gotten in researching CQE? ASQ has descriptions of what the certifications are about. If you are serious about attaining CQE, I suggest you purchase a used copy of the Handbook (5th Edition) and start reviewing it now. If you do choose to pursue the CQE, this handbook makes an excellent exam reference.

Disclaimer: I am an ASQ member.

 

[awan_raza]

1st question.............And your experience working as a Quality Engineer is what?

Hi Randy thanks for your response.
Sadly as a quality engineer I haven't got any experience.

 

[awan_raza]

So the CQE exam focuses on Quality engineering skills not so much on ISO quality systems management. (That is covered more strongly in the CQM certification and the CQA certification). Quality engineering skills include SPC, FMEA, DoE, and statistical analysis. In general the CQE certification is more appropriate for a manufacturing engineer. But if you are thinking that you love the QMS part of quality then you might consider pursuing the CQA and CQM certifications.

As note I’ve never seen a 1st or 2nd level position that couldn’t be filled by someone who has some experience in most of the ‘requirements’ and a great willingness to learn. After all every new level in a career ladder requires learning new skills…

No entry level position is staffed with people who are actually trained let alone experienced in quality engineering or even CAD tools.

Thanks Bev for your detailed answer, I will be happy to be considered for entry level position but even after applying to multiple entry level positions I haven't got any response so I was just thinking that getting CQE certification might help in getting my foot into quality sector of UK job market.

 

[awan_raza]

Welcome to The Cove awan_raza!

Listen to Randy and Bev. Having knowledge and experience in Manufacturing Engineering is extremely helpful, but Quality Engineering is its own discipline. You would be starting at the beginning, as my own colleagues have done. Be aware that most employers want Quality Engineers with experience, regardless of certification. You would be competing with those who do have years "under their belt."

How far have you gotten in researching CQE? ASQ has descriptions of what the certifications are about. If you are serious about attaining CQE, I suggest you purchase a used copy of the Handbook (5th Edition) and start reviewing it now. If you do choose to pursue the CQE, this handbook makes an excellent exam reference.

Disclaimer: I am an ASQ member.

Thanks Jen, your response is appreciated.

I am happy to start at the beginning, do you think for entry level position my professional experience in manfucturing industry would count as advantage even if it is not related to quality?

Regarding CQE research, I did study the CQE BOK and the exam pattern. I have found few trainers who are offering online preparation course but I am thinking of buying CQE Handbook and start preparation by myself.

 

[Tidge]

I hold a CQE, I wish you luck in your efforts.

One comment I feel like making: Recruiters are, in my experience, pretty bad about understanding the value of a CQE. Recruiters are only slightly worse about this than other people, including some Quality Professionals. It isn't hard to find folks that sneer (sometimes politely, sometimes less so) at "quality"... and often this sort of hostility isn't entirely unjustified.

In my opinion, the true value of CQE certification is this: The person who attains certification should now be able to hold a conversation with other professionals (including non "quality" folks) and be prepared to form a basis for problem-understanding and problem-solving. This is the value of having a body-of-knowledge. There are no shortage of people in industries who "know better" than quality engineers, but precious few of them are able to understand the limits of their own ability to explain what they know or how they intend to apply it.

 

[Jen Kirley]

Listen to Tidge.

Your professional experience is valuable, but as Tidge pointed out the "gatekeeper" might be simply looking for x years of experience - look at the advertisements. Their language reveals what they expect in a new hire. It is unusual to find employers stray from that among applicants they intake in the usual way, that is answering advertisements. If you have ASQ groups who meet in your area, you can potentially meet professionals there and network your way into a role. I have never succeeded at this though, even when the QA Manager I was trying to network with was in my own organization and already knew me. Clearly he didn't think as much of me as he did the person he moved into the role I was coveting. It must have been my magnetic personality. I eventually moved on out of that employer, as I have always done.

Your years of experience should, indeed help you to take the exam because there are time-in-industry requirements for each.

I passed all of my exams via self study which focused on the Handbooks, select additional references and purchased test question banks. I used the test question banks to look up the answers because I find myself absorbing more that way than simply reading the handbook like a novel. It is just my learning style, yours may differ.

 

[awan_raza]

I hold a CQE, I wish you luck in your efforts.

One comment I feel like making: Recruiters are, in my experience, pretty bad about understanding the value of a CQE. Recruiters are only slightly worse about this than other people, including some Quality Professionals. It isn't hard to find folks that sneer (sometimes politely, sometimes less so) at "quality"... and often this sort of hostility isn't entirely unjustified.

In my opinion, the true value of CQE certification is this: The person who attains certification should now be able to hold a conversation with other professionals (including non "quality" folks) and be prepared to form a basis for problem-understanding and problem-solving. This is the value of having a body-of-knowledge. There are no shortage of people in industries who "know better" than quality engineers, but precious few of them are able to understand the limits of their own ability to explain what they know or how they intend to apply it.

You have explained the situation quite clearly. Thanks for that.