Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA) Practice Exam

Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA) Practice Exam

About Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA) Exam

The Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA) certification demonstrates foundational knowledge of quality improvement tools and techniques. Individuals certified as CQIAs are engaged in quality improvement initiatives, though they may not necessarily come from a traditional quality role.

Exam Details

• Type of Question: Multiple-choice questions.
• Exam formats: Computer-Based Test / Paper-based test
• Scoring; Computer Based - 110 questions (100 scored, 10 unscored), 3 hours and 18 minutes / Paper-Based Test: One part, 100 questions, 3 hours.
• Type of Exam: Open-Book Exam
• Eligibility Requirements: Candidates must have held a full-time, paid role in any field.
• Experience: Minimum of two years in a professional setting, or an associate degree or equivalent higher education.
• Pass: Results are available immediately for CBT

Course Outline

The Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA) Exam covers the following topics- 

Domain 1 - understanding Quality Concepts (30 Questions)

1.1 Terms, Concepts, and Principles

• Quality – Define and apply the concept of quality in various scenarios.
• Quality Plan – Explain the purpose of a quality plan within an organization and identify key contributors to its development.
• Employee Involvement and Empowerment – Understand and distinguish between these concepts and describe their advantages.
• Systems and Processes – Differentiate between systems and processes, and analyze their components, including SIPOC (Supplier, Input, Process, Output, Customer).
• Variation – Understand the differences between common and special cause variation in quality metrics.

1.2 Benefits of Quality

• Explain the organizational benefits of quality techniques for processes, products, and services, and describe what quality means to different stakeholders (e.g., employees, customers, suppliers, and the community).

1.3 Quality Philosophies

Shewhart’s Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) Cycle

Deming’s 14 Points

Juran’s Trilogy

Ishikawa (Cause and Effect) Diagram

Crosby’s Zero Defects

Domain 2 - Understanding Team Basics (20 Questions)

2.1 Team Organization

• Purpose of Teams – Describe when and why teams are effective problem-solving tools.
• Types of Teams – Identify and differentiate between various team structures, including cross-functional, self-managed, and ad-hoc project teams.
• Value of Teams – Understand how team efforts can drive organizational change and support strategic objectives.

2.2 Roles and Responsibilities

• Define the roles of team stakeholders, including sponsor, champion, facilitator, leader, and member.

2.3 Team Formation and Dynamics

• Team Initiation – Apply elements of successful team launches, such as setting goals and establishing ground rules.
• Member Selection – Describe criteria for selecting team members based on skills, representation, and diversity.
• Team Stages – Recognize the stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, and performing.
• Conflict and Groupthink – Understand the value of conflict, identify barriers to success, and discuss strategies to resolve groupthink.
• Decision-Making Models – Use and apply decision-making models like voting and consensus-building techniques.

Domain 3 - Understanding Continuous Improvement Techniques (30 Questions)

3.1  Continuous Improvement

• Define and apply continuous improvement tools, including:
• Brainstorming
• PDCA Cycle
• Affinity Diagrams
• Cost of Quality
• Internal Audits

3.2 Process Improvement

• Six Sigma – Understand Six Sigma concepts, roles, and the DMAIC phases (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control).
• Lean – Identify Lean tools for waste reduction, including Kanban, JIT, 5S, and value stream mapping.
• Benchmarking – Define benchmarking and its role in establishing best practices.
• Incremental vs. Breakthrough Improvement – Differentiate between these types and understand appropriate applications for each.

3.3 Quality Improvement Tools

Select, interpret, and apply the seven fundamental quality tools:

• Flowcharts
• Histograms
• Pareto Charts
• Scatter Diagrams
• Cause and Effect Diagrams
• Check Sheets
• Control Charts
• Understand control chart basics, including centerlines, control limits, and out-of-control indicators.

Domain 4 - Customer-Supplier Relations (20 Questions)

4.1 Internal and External Customers and Suppliers

• Distinguish between internal and external stakeholders, understand their influence on products and services, and identify improvement strategies.

4.2 Customer Satisfaction

• Explain different customer feedback mechanisms, such as surveys and complaints, and describe their role in driving continuous improvement.

4.3 Supplier Management

• Identify and understand supplier performance metrics, including quality, price, delivery, and service levels, and commonly used indicators such as defect rates and responsiveness.