University of Technology Sydney

49309 Quality Planning and Analysis

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Engineering: Professional Practice and Leadership
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

Quality is one of the main success factors for organisations, whether they operate in manufacturing or service and transactional sectors. A sound quality management system, based on modern and up-to-date quality planning and analysis tools and techniques, reduces rejects, warranty claims and the need for costly rework. It helps to preserve customer goodwill and builds a brand loyalty based on objective criteria rather than illusions.

Topics covered in this subject include:

  • quality and its modern definition
  • analysis of customer needs and customer satisfaction
  • integrating quality into design of products and services
  • managing supplier relations and quality of supplies
  • monitoring and statistical analysis of process quality, and
  • continuous quality improvement methods and programs.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Explain business process quality imperatives, values and methodologies for engineering practice and management, with particular reference to Australian enterprise. (B.1)
2. Meet challenges of quality management and continuous improvement at individual or group level enterprise. (C.1, D.1)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

  • Socially Responsible: FEIT graduates identify, engage, and influence stakeholders, and apply expert judgment establishing and managing constraints, conflicts and uncertainties within a hazards and risk framework to define system requirements and interactivity. (B.1)
  • Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design thinking and decision-making methodologies in new contexts or to novel problems, to explore, test, analyse and synthesise complex ideas, theories or concepts. (C.1)
  • Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply theoretical, conceptual, software and physical tools and advanced discipline knowledge to research, evaluate and predict future performance of systems characterised by complexity. (D.1)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies

Students enrolled in the Master of Professional Engineering should note that this subject contributes to the development of the following Engineers Australia Stage 1 competencies:

  • 1.5. Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline.
  • 1.6. Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline.
  • 2.1. Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving.
  • 2.2. Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject has two main teaching components: Lectures and Tutorials. The lectures (including guest lectures) provide you the opportunity to listen to the lecturer(s), ask questions, meet fellow students, participate in the class discussions, etc.

During the tutorials, students have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the topics covered in this subject by discussing the assignment tasks, applying various tools and techniques used in the subject to real case examples.

Although attendance of tutorials and lectures is not compulsory, it is however highly recommended that you take this opportunity as they provide the platform for class interactions including discussions, Q&A, team work, etc.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Individual Assignment

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1 and 2

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1 and D.1

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 30%
Length:

Page size requirements are specified in each task (part) of the actual assignment document. Page size difference i.e. slightly under or over is acceptable.

Assessment task 2: Group Assignment

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1 and 2

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1 and D.1

Type: Report
Groupwork: Group, group assessed
Weight: 30%
Length:

Further details about the test length, format and timing will be announced on Canvas.

Assessment task 3: Exam

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1 and 2

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1 and D.1

Type: Examination
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 40%

Assessment task 4: Individual assignment

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1 and 2

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1 and D.1

Type: Presentation
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 30%
Length:

5 minutes of video presentation. Further details about the format and specific content will be announced on UTS Canvas.

Minimum requirements

In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.

Recommended texts

All relevant subject materials and texts will be made available to enrolled students via subject webpage at Canvas.

References

Selected references:

  • De Feo, J., 2017. Juran’s Quality Handbook – The complete guide to performance excellence – 7th Ed – McGrawHill.
  • Ghobadian A., Speller S. (1994). Gurus of quality: a framework for comparison. Total Quality Management, 5:3, 53-70. https://doi.org/10.1080/09544129400000025
  • Dr W Edwards Deming, 2000. Out of the crisis: quality, productivity and competitive position , Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
  • Laasch, O., Conaway, R.N., 2015. Principles of Responsible Management – Cengage Learning.
  • Akpolat, Hasan, Foundations of Six Sigma: customer and processes, extract from Six Sigma in transactional and service environments. Aldershot, U.K. , Gower Publ. pp. 21-41 https://drr.lib.uts.edu.au/28243/49309_AkpolatFoundations.pdf
  • Joel E. Ross, Customer Satisfaction, extract from Total Quality Management: Text, Cases and Readings. Delray Beach, FL: St. Lucie Press, pp. 299-322. https://drr.lib.uts.edu.au/28218/49309_RossCustomer.pdf
  • Gevirtz, Charles D., Failure mode and effects analysis, extract from Developing new products with TQM, McGraw-Hill, New York, pp. 115-131. https://drr-lib-uts-edu-au.ezproxy.lib.uts.edu.au/27911/49309_GevirtzFailure.pdf ,
  • Engineering Statistics Handbook, available at: https://www.itl.nist.gov/div898/handbook/pmc/section3/pmc32.htm
  • Abdulmalek, F.A., Rajgopal, J., 2007. Analyzing the benefits of lean manufacturing and value stream mapping via simulation: A process sector case study. Int. J. of Production Economics, 107:223-236.
  • Hines, P., Holweg, M., Rich, N., 2004. Learning to evolve: a review of contemporary lean thinking. Int. J. of Operations and Production Management, 24(10):994-1011.
  • Pepper, M.P.J., Spedding, T.A., 2010. The evolution of lean six sigma. Int. J. of Quality and Reliability Management, 27(2):138-155.
  • Hines, P., Rich, N., 1997. The seven value stream mapping tools. Int. J. of Operations and Production Management, 17(1):46-64.
  • Pettersen, J., 2009. Defining lean production: some conceptual and practical issues. The TQM Journal, 21(2):127-142.
  • Arnheiter, E.D. and Maleyeff, J., 2005. The integration of lean management and six sigma. The TQM Magazine, 17(1):5-18.
  • Bhamu, J., Sangwan, K.S., 2014. Lean manufacturing: literature review and research issues. Int. J. of Operations and Production Management, 34(7):876-940.

Note: No textbook is required for this subject