Posting Date: Fri, 8 Mar 1996 

Results of CQA Cyber-survey				by	Dennis Arter
---------------------------					------------


In February of 1996, I asked participants in the several internet
discussion lists whether the ASQC's Certified Quality Auditor
should be changed. I estimate that about 5,000 people read the
message. In order to provide data for discussion of the issue in
Kansas City, I asked the participants to vote for one of three
choices:

A.     The CQA should not be changed
B.     The CQA should include knowledge of ISO 9001/2/3
C.     The CQA should become equivalent to the ISO 9000 Lead
       Assessor Course final exam

I must have touched something dear to many of you, as the
responses came within two hours of posting on a Friday afternoon!
Many were well thought-out and presented good information.

Date     A     B     C     Unknown

2/2    14      5     1     6
2/3     1      4     3     1
2/4     3      3     -     1
2/5     9      4     5     5
2/6     4      2     1     1
2/7     4      2     1     1
2/8     4      4     1     -
2/9     3      3     1     -
2/10    2      2     -     1
2/12    2      5     1     -
2/13    1      -     -     -
2/14    3      2     1     -
2/15    3      -     -     -

Total  54     36    15    16


Cyber Summary:

The A respondents generally felt the CQA exam should cover the
principles of good auditing which would be applicable to any
Standard. B's respondents were concerned with doing business
internationally, affirming that ISO Standards hold a lot of sway
in that arena. The C respondents seemed to feel the CQA exam could
use more tooth, which they do feel is present in the ISO 9000 Lead
Assessor exam. The Unknown column represents responses that were
more complicated than the clear choices offered in the other three
columns.

ASQC Quality Audit Division Recommendation
(Kansas City, February 24)

Similar to the internet discussions, the members of the Quality
Audit Division expressed passion in their CQA and its exam. After
a round of discussion, five voted to "include more specific
information from quality management system standards, including
ISO 9001/2/3, but only in a situational context." Thirty voted to
"keep the CQA exam independent of specific knowledge of any
particular quality standard." We have passed this information on
to the ASQC's Certification Committee.

Thank you all for your participation!

--------------------------------------------------------
Dennis R. Arter, "The Audit Guy"   ->NEW ADDRESS<-
Columbia Audit, 6951 W. Grandridge Blvd, Kennewick, WA 99336
509/783-0377, fax/783-1115, internet: darter@mcimail.com