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LP10243: Quality improvement techniques

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2013/4
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Mechanical Engineering (administered by the Learning Partnerships Office)
Further information on credits Credits: 10
Further information on unit levels Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Academic Year at Bridgwater College
Further information on unit assessment Assessment: CW 100%
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions 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.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

LP10243 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Programmes administered by the Learning Partnerships Office
  • UEME-RPF44 : FdSc Engineering Systems (Part-time at Bridgwater College) - Year 2

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2013/4 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2014/15 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2013/14.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.