ASQMS is a quality management system standard for organizations.

By nature, we therefore differentiate:

For the certification of organizations, the auditors are called third-party auditors and are solely qualified by the oversight organizations CACPQSP in China and ASQMS Deutschland GmbH outside China. This is similar to standards such as IATF 16949.

Initial qualifications required prior to training courses and the third-party auditor exam are strictly controlled by oversight. The trainers and examiners are carefully selected and remain under constant support and supervision from oversight. This guarantees the trust of the industry in this standard.

The prerequisite for all third-party auditors is qualification as first-/second-party auditor, along with the knowledge of the three eBooks (ASQMS Standard Requirements, Certification Rules and Auditor Guide). Then a three-day upgrade training to third-party assistant auditor must be completed and the exam passed. After two years of activity, an upgrade to full auditor is possible. Until the end of 2026, during the initial phase of ASQMS, exceptions and shortcuts under oversight supervision are possible.

Third-party auditors are not allowed to consult an organization during a third-party audit. However, in contrast to some overcome regulations in other QMS Standards in some countries, third-party ASQMS auditors are encouraged to issue OFIs (Opportunities for Improvements).

Third-party auditors for ASQMS report to a single certification body when they perform certification audits. They may act as consultants and trainers, but they cannot consult or train organizations within a cool-off period of two years after their last audit of that organization.

For the certifications of persons, similar to ASPICE, auditors such as first- and second-party auditors are trained and qualified; consultants are trained and licensed, employees are trained, examined, and receive certificates, etc.

After the initial introduction period of ASQMS, the oversight offices will refrain from offering trainings and will leave this to licensed partners (exceptions apply to third-party auditors, see above).

The qualification level of trainees, however, will be determined by exams. These exams will not be designed or conducted by the licensed partners. Instead, they will be designed, continuously improved, and administered by oversight. Exams for ASQMS are online, with the necessary precautions in place to prevent misuse. Certificates will be issued online and can be verified through the oversight websites. For the practical process of an online exam, please see the procedures at the end of this article.

A first-party auditor is an internal auditor, who consults and audits his own organization. A second-party auditor is sent to a supplier and audits this supplier according to ASQMS requirements, but is also encouraged to consult and support the supplier’s improvement. He may initiate exams, which are conducted by oversight, including certificates for passed exams or certificates of attendance (for persons, not for organizations).

The qualification for a first- and second-party auditor is obtained through a four-day training provided by licensed partners (a master trainer is required). This is followed by an online exam (60 minutes, closed book) with a required pass rate of 80% . The current cost is 450,- Euro. Additionally, the purchase of the ASQMS standard requirements eBook (75,- Euro) is mandatory for admission.

Three days of training (excluding the audit module) plus exam. The pass rate is 60%, with a 60-minute online open book exam. A personal copy of the ASQMS Standard Requirements eBook (75,- Euro) is required. Training can be conducted by licensed partners. Trainers need to have a training license issued by oversight. Further trainings and achievement levels are under development by oversight in cooperation with licensed partners and will be offered from May 2025 onwards.

The ASQMS training system is modular and allows tailor-made scoping for each clientele.

For training purpose, licensed partners can use the copyright-protected training material and select number of slides. Original slides cannot be changed, but licensed partners are encouraged to add their own supplementary slides. Exams and certificates for such cases are offered in cooperation with the licensed partners, subject to approval of the selected content and the trainer assigned.