COURSE OVERVIEW:

Quality is a result produced when a need, expectation, requirement or demand is met or satisfied. Something that does not satisfy the need is deemed poor quality and something that meets the need in every way is deemed excellent quality. This result (quality) is what most people try to achieve in whatever they do, in all organisations and families. Most of us want the result of our efforts to satisfy the need, expectation, requirement or demand however it is expressed. So how do we go about it?

But how is quality achieved? First off, quality is created. It doesn't just happen. It almost never happens by accident, and when it does, it cannot be duplicated. Second, quality is not the starting point. Very few actions are quality actions the first time they are attempted. Very few products are quality products the first time they are created. Third, quality is not the same as perfection. Perfection is possible, but not necessary to achieve quality. A quality movie or a quality car or a quality accountant might all have minor weaknesses, but still be significantly better than other movies or cars or accountants.

Quality is achieved by taking your starting point, and making it better. In the case of a complex action or product, as most are, this means making all the parts better, bit by bit.

This course examines how quality is achieved, managed, and improved, presenting the two opposing theories of managing success and managing failure and introduces the principles that underpin the management of quality. Aspects and fundamental principles of quality control, assurance and improvement are examined next including a study of variation and six sigma.

In the first part we examine the basic concepts and principles that underpin the body of knowledge of quality management. Then we examine a plethora of terms, discarded the misconceptions and extracted the key messages in order to arrive at some universal principles that will help us discover the right things to do in achieving and improving quality. Also, we will pay particular attention to quality control because it is this more than any other topic that has been misunderstood.

In the second part we examine the concepts of standards, measurement and variation in some depth as these are at the heart of quality management. Then we show that the achievement of quality is a strategic issue that requires a systems approach.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand:

• The nature of quality management
• The characters of the “goal management” school
• The characters of the “risk management” school
• The quality management principles
• The customer focus principle
• The leadership principle
• The process approach principle
• The system approach principle
• The continual improvement principles
• The factual approach principle to decision making
• The mutually beneficial supplier relationships principle
• How to use the quality principles?
• Quality planning (QP)
• Quality control (QC)
• Control before the event
• Control during the event
• Control after the event
• Quality control as a label
• The universal sequence of steps for quality control
• The special cause variation
• The common cause variation
• Six sigma as a statistical concept
• Six sigma as a strategic concept
• The steps in a typical Six Sigma programme
• The DMAIC problem solving technique
• How to restore the status quo
• The importance to distinguish between four separate actions when dealing with nonconformity
• Quality improvement (QI)
• Are we doing it right? And can we keep on doing it right?
• What affects our ability to maintain this performance?
• How to improve quality by accomplishing better control or raising standards?
• Quality assurance (QA)
• The steps to obtain an assurance of quality
• The level of attention to quality

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 3-4 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.