History and Purpose of the Institute for Quality Control Training
A major responsibility of any professional organization is the provision of means by which members may increase their professional competence. The Chicago Section and the American Society for Quality have, throughout their existence, recognized this responsibility. Informal basic training sessions and the Two-Day Training Course were being conducted by the Section shortly after it was organized. The Statistical Methods Course was started in 1954 and the Metrology Course was begun in 1958.
As the practice of quality control became more comprehensive, the technical requirements of the field became more exacting. In response, the American Society for Quality Control established in 1966 a Certification Program for the professional level of Quality Engineer. This professional level is attained by members who pass a written examination.
Anticipating the Society's trend, the Chicago Section created this Institute in 1962 in order to provide an educational service to members who wish to improve their professional competence. The Institute offers non-profit courses in the basic principles of inspection, statistical quality control, industrial statistics, and quality control administration. These courses constitute a step toward the Society's various levels of professional certification.
Students in our courses have ranged in background from those with doctorates to men and women with limited high school experience and in age from 18 to 65 years. Our interest is in individuals who wish to learn whatever principles are necessary to be effective in the quality control field in business and government.
Our instructors have had widely-varying backgrounds in practical quality control experience in business. However, no matter how effective and practical the instructor may be, study is still necessary on the part of the student.