Last Update:
11/20/2001
Certifications for IEs
Why become certified?
Competition is a fact of life in today’s business world. Employers
are looking for, and often insisting on, employees that are proficient
in their respective disciplines, especially in the quality arena. Certification
is the easiest way to prove your proficiency to an employer. Attaining
certification has significant income value as demonstrated by salary surveys
like those conducted by the American Society for Quality (ASQ) and the
American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS). Certification
is an investment in your career and in the future of your employer.
Below is a list of certifications frequently of interest to IEs.
Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt
Six Sigma has become a major cultural factor in many companies, including those in the Dallas area, e.g., GE, Nokia, Raytheon, Stanley. Black Belt certification is primarily aimed at individuals involved in process improvement and quality, but some companies value having Green Belt certified employees in all of their other functions. For a good overview of Six Sigma, visit www.isixsigma.com. If your employer does not provide training and certification, you can obtain it locally from International Quality Training, located at UTA. This course is endorsed and recommended by the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC). One of the requirements for graduation is completion of a project with a $100,000 ROI. Your employer might be willing to pay for your training if you successfully complete the project. Visit www.iqtsixsigma.com. You can also obtain Six Sigma certification by taking an ASQ test. It’s a tough test.
ASQ Certifications for Quality
The American Society for Quality has several certifications, including membership in ASQ itself. Additional certifications include:
- Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)
- Certified Quality Engineer (CQE)
- Certified Quality Manager (CQM)
- Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE)
Visit www.isixsigma.com/ca/asq_certification/
APICS Certifications for Resource Management and Logistics
- Certified in Integrated Resource Management (CIRM)
- Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
Visit www.apics.org.
ISO 9000 Certifications for Quality Auditors
See the Registrar Accreditation Board (RAB) web site, www.rabnet.com.
- Quality Management System (QMS) Auditor
- QMS Internal Auditor
MOST Certification for Work Measurement
MOST (Maynard Operation Sequence Technique) is a proprietary product,
but nonetheless it is a relatively well known software package used for
maintaining work standards. Companies that use it value certification.
H. B. Maynard and Company, Inc supplies the software and certification.
Visit www.hbmaynard.com.