Quality Core Tools Knowledge Badge

The Quality Core Tools are the building blocks of an effective quality management system. Developed in the 1980s for the auto industry, they’ve proven so useful that they have also been adopted by other manufacturing sectors including aerospace, defense, medical, and pharmaceuticals. They include:

  • Advanced Product Quality Planning & Control Plan (APQP)
  • Product Part Approval Process (PPAP)
  • Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
  • Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
  • Statistical Process Control (SPC)
Core Tools Knowledge Badge

Today, most automotive manufacturers and many other manufacturing sectors require use of one or more of the Core Tools. To assist current and future automotive professionals in assessing their knowledge – and to give them exposure to all of the Core Tools – the industry, through AIAG and its Board of Directors, has developed the Core Tools Knowledge Badge, free for all AIAG members.

How to earn the Quality Core Tools Knowledge Badge

Begin by taking the Core Tools Self-Assessment to get your baseline scores. Then take all 6 of the associated Core Tools eLearning modules. Finally, retake the Core Tools Self-Assessment. If you’ve scored at least 80% in all four Core Tools subjects, you get the badge! If you score less than 80% on any portion of the self-assessment, you must wait 30 days to retake it. For the eLearning, you have 60 days to complete each training, and there is no limit as to how many times or when you can retake them.

Below are the 6 required eLearning modules you need to complete to earn the badge. We recommend that you take them in the order listed, but this is not required.

  • Core Tools Overview
  • Implementing APQP, Control Plan and PPAP
  • AIAG & VDA FMEA: Essentials eLearning
  • Implementing Statistical Process Control (SPC)
  • Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA) with Applications
  • Quality Core Tools - Connect the Dots

When you enroll in the Quality Core Tools Knowledge Badge program, links to the required eLearning modules with a dashboard to track your progress will be added your “My Account” page.

Please note: You must complete the initial CTSA (Core Tools Self- Assessment) for the program and course dashboard to be added to your My Account page.