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LP10509: 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: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 2 at Swindon 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 of and familiarise learners with the principles and applications of Quality Management and Business Improvement. Also, to examine the key factors underpinning Six Sigma methodology and Total Quality Management (TQM) techniques and 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 and 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 (F, 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:

LP10509 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Programmes administered by the Learning Partnerships Office
  • UEME-HPF44 : FdSc Engineering Systems (Part-time at Swindon 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.