If you are already working for a company, and wish to learn more about quality improvement techniques whilst studying for a higher degree, you can take the course on a part-time basis over three years. However, provision of a day-release programme is subject to sufficient demand. Both will result in decreased profits and, ultimately, failure of the business. Costs associated with poor quality can be saved by methods that are cheap and interesting to implement, if everyone working for the company cooperates. It is the aim of our course to cover the theory and use of these methods.
Good design is the starting point for a high quality process.
One aspect of this is that the product should be relatively insensitive to variability in its components, not only to reduce difficulties and wastage at the manufacturing stage but also to make the product more reliable when used by the customer. The Japanese engineer Genichi Taguchi has achieved considerable recognition for his work in this area. We take a critical look at Taguchi's contributions and concentrate on appropriate statistical methods for design of products. High quality materials are another prerequisite for quality produce, and purchasing is another area in which careful planning can lead to overall savings. Acceptance sampling schemes are taught, and the possibility of dispensing with, or at least reducing, inspection if high quality suppliers are used on a regular basis is emphasised.