EMAIL: dstout@stmartin.edu

WEB SITE: http://homepages.stmartin.edu/fac_staff/dstout/

REQUIRED TEXT: Donna C. S. Summers, Quality, 4th ed., Prentice-Hall, 2006.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Enhance the student’s understanding of the complexities of statistical analysis and control-chart interpretation and their work-place application.

Provide skills in diagnosing and analyzing problems causing variation in manufacturing and service industry processes.

Provide a basic understanding of "widely-used" quality analysis tools and techniques. Create an awareness of the quality management problem-solving techniques currently in use.

Material will be presented using a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, in-class exercises, multimedia cases, short videos, web site exercises, homework, case analysis and presentation, and class discussion of assigned readings. When possible a cooperative, student-centered learning approach will be utilized to enable a high level of student involvement.

Introduction

• Quality basics and history
• Quality advocates
• Quality improvement

Total Quality Management

• Deming
• Juran
• Crosby
• Quality Management 

Quality Improvement Techniques

• Pareto Diagrams
• Cause-Effect Diagrams
• Scatter Diagrams
• Run Charts
• Cause and Effect Diagrams 

Statistical Concepts

• Definitions
• Measures of Central Tendency
• Measure of Dispersion
• Concepts of Population and Samples
• Normal Curves 

Control Charts for Variables

• Definitions
• Variation: Common vs. Special Causes
• Control Chart Techniques
• X-bar and R chart Correlation
• X-bar and S charts 

Control Chart Interpretation and Analysis

• Using Charts to Pinpoint Problems
• Process Capability

Other Variable Control Charts

• Individuals and Moving Range Charts
• Moving Average and Moving Range Charts
• Charts for Individuals
• Median and Range Charts 

Fundamentals of Probability

• Basic Concepts and Definitions
• Discrete Probability Distributions
• Continuous Probability Distributions

Control Charts for Attributes

• Definitions
• Control Charts for Non-conforming Units
• Control Charts for Counts of Non-conforming Units 

Reliability

• Product Life Cycle
• Measures of Reliability

Quality Costs

• Quality Cost Measurement
• Utilizing Quality Costs for Decision-Making

Advanced Topics

• Quality Function Deployment
• Design of Experiments

 Quality Systems: ISO 9000, Six Sigma

• Certification Requirements
• Evolving Standards

Benchmarking and Auditing

• Reaching World Class Standards

GRADING:

ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION: (10 points)

I recommend you come to each class session. I appreciate your presence and active participation during each class period. Your willingness to share your personal work experiences and insights enhances course value for all students.

While I track daily attendance, attendance is not mandatory in the same manner as passing the exams, reading the course material, and doing the homework is not mandatory. But, if you miss a class - without pre-excusal - it may be the class I hand out an unannounced pop quiz or collect homework. Missed quizzes and late homework earn scores of 0.

EXAMS/QUIZZES: You should expect two exams (10 points for a midterm and 20 points for a final exam). Unannounced quizzes (5 points) on reading assignments and problems will be given periodically. If an insufficient number of quizzes is given to justify 5% of the course grade, the points for quizzes may be reallocated to the final examination.

PRESENTATIONS: (15 points) I will ask you to make 2 to 3 presentations over the course of the semester. These "deskside" presentations will be brief. Their purpose is to inform your classmates about a specific subject area. They are also intended to give you an opportunity to further improve your oral presentation skills.

Journal article review/CRITIQUE: (5 points) You will be required to review and critique one article of your choosing found in the ASQ journal, Quality Progress. You will write and submit a one-page, single spaced review of the article. Your review MUST NOT exceed one page. It must conclude with a recommendation as to whether or not others should read the article. Model your article review/critique after those found in Choice : Publication of the Association of College and Research Libraries, a Division of the American Library Association. Find Choice through O'Grady Library's online research database holdings.

HOMEWORK: (35 points)

I ask you to adhere to the following guidelines:

1) I expect all homework submissions to be typed. I recommend you do all charts and graphs in MS Excel.

2) Precede every homework answer with a restatement of the homework question.

3) Show all work. Indicate intermediate steps you took to arrive at each answer.

I encourage you to form and work in study groups to do homework problems. I have found discussion within study groups contributes to overall understanding. A cautionary note, I expect you to do your own cogitating. You should use your group as a means to help you hurdle specific problem areas, not to replace your own problem-solving thought process.

Keeping in touch with me: First, ask questions in class (it helps you and may help others). Alternatively, visit me during my posted office hours. Slide a note under my office door ("Old Main" room 370). Call me (360 438-4587). Or, send me an email (dstout@stmartin.edu).

Special assistance: The Learning Center offers individual learning consultations, study group assistance, handouts and books on study skills, and free peer tutoring in the following subject areas: math, chemistry, physics, economics, accounting, Spanish, French, and Japanese. The tutoring schedules are posted outside the door in Old Main, room 212. To learn more about resources available through the Learning Center you are encouraged to drop by room 208 or visit their website: www.stmartin.edu/academics/learning_center/index.htm.

Special needs: If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have medical and/or safety concerns to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.