Learning Partnerships, Unit Catalogue 2009/10 |
AS10243: Quality improvement techniques |
 Credits: |
10 |
| Level: |
Certificate |
| Period: | This unit is available in... |
| Academic Year at Swindon College |
| Assessment: |
CW 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites: |
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| Description: | Aims: The aims of this unit are to: * raise awareness and familiarise learners with the principles and applications of Quality Management and Business Improvement; * examine the key factors underpinning Six Sigma methodology and Total Quality Management (TQM) techniques; * apply techniques for failure modes and effect analysis as well as lead-time analysis for production and business improvement. Learning Outcomes: On completion of the unit the student should be able to: * identify potential areas for improvements within a working area and calculate key performance indicators and produce Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the work area; * apply the six sigma methodology to create a metric chart and identify the critical to quality characteristics of a project; * describe the key factors necessary for the implementation of a Quality Assurance (QA) system within a given process and apply Quality Control (QC) techniques to determine process capability; * use cause and effect diagrams to identify improvement opportunities and determine waste; * evaluate the factors affecting costings. Skills: During this unit students should gain the following skills: Intellectual: * gathering processing and analyzing information (F, A) * synthesizing models of regulatory frameworks (F, T) Professional: * making written and verbal presentations (F, A) * justifying improvement decisions made (F, A) Practical: * maintaining records of research carried out (T, A) * carrying out investigation of engineering organizations (F, A) Key: * writing reports (A) * applying numerical techniques (T, A) * calculating statistical failure rates (T, A) Content: This unit concentrates on: * principles of TQM and Continuous Improvement (CI) * application techniques for TQM and CI * the identification of quality improvement methods * management structure necessary to support improvement * factors and purposes of QA * QC techniques such as inventory control; statistical process control; acceptance sampling. * potential failure modes and effect analysis * principles and processes of lead time analysis * techniques used in Set Up Reduction and standard operating procedure. |