Course Information

Program of Studies (30 credit hours):

Required Core Courses (10 credit hours)

QUAL 546 - Total Quality Management	2
QUAL 548 - Tools for Continuous Improvement*	2
QUAL 551 - Design of Experiments	2
QUAL 552 - Quality Planning	2
QUAL 559 - Cost of Quality	2

*Appropriate for those students who have never taken basic statistics

and/or statistical process control (SPC).

Required Quality Concentration (12-14 credit hours)**

QUAL 550 - Advanced Statistical Process Control	2
QUAL 553 - Geometric and Surface Texture Tolerancing	2
QUAL 554 - Reliability, Maintainability, and Product Safety	2
QUAL 555 - Quality Auditing	2
QUAL 556 - Human Factors in Continuous Improvement	2
QUAL 557 - Measuring Customer Satisfaction	2
QUAL 568 - Lean Practices	2
QUAL 651 - Advanced Design of Experiments	2
QUAL 652 - Multivariate Data Analysis	2
QUAL 655- Technical Six Sigma	2
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*
*

*Advisor Approved Electives (Max 6 credit hours). Theses are non-QUAL courses (eg., statistics, mnagement, economics, and marketing). If approved/taken, they fulfill part of the required 12-14 credit hours for the Qulaity Concentration. Required Capstone

**Course selection subject to approval by your program advisor.

Required Capstone (6 - 8 credit hours)

QUAL 647 - Research Methods*	2
QUAL 690 - Development Project/Thesis**	1
QUAL 691 - Development Project/Thesis**	2
QUAL 692 - Development Project/Thesis**	3

* Required for all students

**QUAL 690 + 692 required for a development project

**QUAL 690 + 691 + 692 required for a thesis

Course Descriptions:

QUAL 546 Total Quality Management (2 cr.)
An introductory course in the theory and practice of total quality management (TQM). The three core values of TQM include customer orientation, high levels of employee involvement across the enterprise, and a focus on continually improving processes. Particular emphasis will be placed on the requirements for successful implementation of TQM in a wide range of organizations. Prerequisite: None

QUAL 548 Tools for Continuous Improvement (2 cr.) An introduction to statistical process control (SPC) and the basic statistical methods used in continuous quality improvement.  Students will obtain the background required for advanced quality courses.  Topics include: An overview of basic Quality principles (e.g. TQM and SPC), organization and presentation of quality-related data, summary descriptive statistics, the use of discrete and normal probability distributions in SPC studies, process capability analysis, and tests of normal distribution assumptions.  Excel and statistical software will be used to illustrate the course topics.  Prerequisite: None

QUAL 550 Advanced Statistical Process Control (2 cr.)
An advanced course in statistical process control. Topics will include special purpose control charts & procedures; analysis of runs, trends, & cycles; process & gage capability; and underlying distribution analysis. Prerequisite: Basic SPC

QUAL 551 Design of Experiments (2 cr.)
A study of the design and analysis of experiments to improve product or process quality. Topics include fundamental concepts applying to the design, conduct, and analysis of factorial experiments as well as reporting results and formulating recommendations for improvement. Suggested preparation: Basic SPC and basic statistics

QUAL 552 Quality Planning (2 cr.)
Procedures utilized to organize and implement the quality function including planning, budgeting information and test procedures, customer complaints and Quality Function Development. Suggested preparation: Basic SPC

QUAL 553 Geometric and Surface Texture Tolerancing (2 cr.)
A study of tolerancing systems to include geometric dimensioning, tolerancing, and surface texture specifications. The primary objective of this course is to demonstrate the application of these systems to discrete parts. Suggested preparation: Blueprint reading

QUAL 554 Reliability, Maintainability, and Product Safety (2 cr.)
A study of long-term performance of products concerned with failure and the ability to bring the products back into use. Product safety improvement and responsibility of manufacturers. Extensive use will be made of statistical software to analyze product reliability. Suggested preparation: Basic SPC

QUAL 555 Quality Auditing (2 cr.)
Interpreting the effectiveness of an organization's quality system through proper information handling. Emphasis on analysis of prevention, appraisal and failure costs and quality systems audit. Suggested preparation: Basic SPC

QUAL 556 Human Aspects of Continuous Improvement (2 cr.)
Employment of the human resource to initiate and maintain continuous improvement in organizations. Theory and examples of best practices including teamwork are emphasized. Suggested preparation: Basic SPC

QUAL 557 Measuring Customer Satisfaction (2 cr.)
This course includes information on how to develop a system to monitor the voice of the customer on a continual basis, as well as how to use customer data to increase market share. Included in the course are various tools for gathering customer data such as focus groups, surveys, and complaint tracking. Suggested preparation: Basic statistics

QUAL 568 Lean Practices (2 cr.)

A class in lean practices as applied to the service sector. Focus will be on the practical aspects of implementing and maintaining work systems capable of continuous improvement. The core theme is the application of systems theory to customer service. In-depth treatment will be given to systems thinking, defining and measuring work, eliminating waste, and engaging employees.

QUAL 559 Cost of Quality (2 cr.)
This purpose of this course is to describe the concept of identifying the cost of poor quality; that is, the costs of finding and correcting defective, non-valued added work. Specifically, students will learn how to quantify quality problems, identify major opportunities for cost reduction, and establish financial controls on sources of poor quality. Prerequisite: None

QUAL 647 Research Methods (2 cr.)
This course prepares students for conducting development projects and theses, and for objectively investigating problems in industry. It is a study of basic and applied research processes employing qualitative, descriptive, and experimental methods. Students will critique research articles and progress toward developing a research proposal. Prerequisite: Completion of ten, core-course hours

QUAL 651 Advanced Design of Experiments (2 cr.)
Advanced design and analysis of experiments to improve product or process quality. There is a strong emphasis on computer methods, modeling techniques, and various response optimization methods. Extensive use will be made of commercially available statistical software to analyze all course topics. Prerequisite: QUAL 551, Design of Experiments

QUAL 652 Multivariate Data Analysis (2 cr.)
This course extends the topics considered in QUAL 651. It deals with: modeling of large (happenstance) data sets by multiple regression; logistic regression of binary response data; time series analysis; regression model validation techniques; contingency tables (with loglinear analysis); canonical correlation; discriminant analysis; further analysis of collinear data problems; cluster analysis; and nonlinear regression analysis. Prerequisite: QUAL 651, Advanced Design of Experiments

QUAL 655 Technical Six Sigma (2 cr.)
Six Sigma coursework will focus on the application and use of practical problem solving tools and data interpretation to reduce costs through waste elimination. The course provides more than adequate preparation for the ASQ Black Belt certification exam.  Prerequisite:  Basic statistics, statistical process control, and design of experiemnts

QUAL 690, 691, 692 Development Project/Thesis (4-6 cr.)
Project: Theory-application research conducted under the supervision of an advisor and departmental committee for four credits. Prerequisite: At least a B grade in QUAL 647, Research Methods and departmental approval

Thesis: Theory-application research conducted under the supervision of an advisor, a departmental committee, and the Graduate School for six credits. Prerequisite: At least a B grade in QUAL 647, Research Methods and departmental approval

 

Graduate Quality Certificate Program

The Quality certificate program was developed to meet the professional needs of individuals who have a baccalaureate degree but do not want to pursue a master’s degree. The Quality certificate contains 18 credit hours of coursework selected from the MS in Quality Management degree program of studies. This body of knowledge and applied technologies for the Quality certificate include, but are not limited to: the ability to apply statistical methods to diagnose and correct improper quality control practices which assure product and service conformity to prescribed standards, an understanding of human factors and motivations, facility with quality cost concepts and techniques, the knowledge and ability to develop and administer management information systems, and to audit quality systems for deficiency identification and correction.

Program of Studies (18 credit hours):

Required Core Courses (10 credit hours)

QUAL 546 - Total Quality Management	2
QUAL 548 - Tools for Continuous Improvement*	2
QUAL 551 - Design of Experiments	2
QUAL 552 - Quality Planning	2
QUAL 559 - Cost of Quality	2

*Appropriate for those students who have never taken basic statistics

and/or statistical process control (SPC).

Required Quality Concentration (8 credit hours)*

QUAL 550 - Advanced Statistical Process Control	2
QUAL 553 - Geometric and Surface Texture Tolerancing	2
QUAL 554 - Reliability, Maintainability, and Product Safety	2
QUAL 555 - Quality Auditing	2
QUAL 556 - Human Factors in Continuous Improvement	2
QUAL 557 - Measuring Customer Satisfaction	2
QUAL 568 - Lean Practices	2
QUAL 651 - Advanced Design of Experiments	2
QUAL 652 - Multivariate Data Analysis	2
QUAL 591 - Technical Six Sigma	2

*Course selection subject to approval by your program advisor.