Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Written Report (4,500 words) | 80% |
| Semester Assessment | Group Discussion (10 minutes) | 20% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Written Essay (1,500 words) | 20% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Written Report (Individual) (4,000 words) | 80% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Critically evaluate the strategic quality management issues of an engineering business.
2. Develop and present a balanced, considered, professional argument of the strengths and weaknesses of QA management strategies and statistical control methods.
3. Apply contemporary quality improvement techniques such as Forensic Engineering and Six Sigma to given production challenges.
4. Critically evaluate the role of SPC in various engineering and production environments.
Brief description
Through examining and reflecting on the concept of quality systems and quality management, this module aims to critically analyse a range of QA and QE systems and models as well as quality planning tools and techniques and contemporary quality improvement techniques and, will apply these techniques to the design, planning, control and management of given production systems.
Content
Concepts of Quality, Total Quality and Lean.
Quality improvement tools e.g. Value Stream Mapping, Pareto analysis, brainstorming, Ishikawa diagrams, Statistical Process Control, FMEA, QFD, DOE and Taguchi methods.
Lean improvement tools. Lean and Flexibility and the five Lean principles.
Analysis and management of variation in engineering. Application of the improvement tools such as Six Sigma.
Maintenance management and TPM concepts, bath tub curves, reliability analysis, Monte Carlo Methods (Case study).
Leadership, teamwork and team building through participation exercises with shop floor staff.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | N/A |
| Communication | Must provide high quality reports and deliver a sound and well developed presentation of the key issues relating to the EM projects. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | The students are required to adapt their strategies and approaches to providing a solution to the identified problem or issue and to show strong leadership skills to provide an effective solution to the issues identified. |
| Information Technology | Use a variety of electronic web- and library-based resources to review available information and retrieve pertinent information. Use of word-processing and spreadsheet skills in assignment and application of MS Excel. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Students must show critical reflective skills and adapt and improve solutions and the quality of the reports on an ongoing basis. QA/QE analysis undertaken on real world engineering/technology issues with solution requiring realistic responses. |
| Problem solving | The module demands the participants to apply analytical skills to reason and understand the challenging nature of the subject. By introducing a variety of theoretical as well as empirical topics, the module enables students to develop creative thinking approaches to problem solving and to critically evaluate potential solutions to complex and challenging problems. These skills will have to be applied in seminar discussions, preparation of the written assessment. Quality management tools and techniques will be applied to business situations. |
| Research skills | The module demands the participants to apply analytical skills to reason and understand the challenging nature of engineering and technology systems and apply specific tools and techniques to given situations. By introducing a variety of theoretical as well as empirical topics, the module enables students to develop creative thinking approaches to EM based problem solving. These skills will have to be applied in seminar discussions, preparation of the coursework and timed assessment . |
| Subject Specific Skills | This module develops students’ understanding and appreciation of environmental economic theories and how these can be applied to address engineering/technology issues. |
| Team work | Students will need to show their ability to work as a team especially in the early stages of the project and in providing a solution to the issues highlighted. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7