SYLLABUS:

M&IS 44150

TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT

SUMMER I, 2012

PROFESSOR: JIM SMAS

OFFICE: KENT BSA A415

TIMES:  TR   6:00 – 9:50 PM

HOURS:   MW 5-6 PM

E-MAIL:  mjsmas@kent.edu

PHONE: 330-672-1155

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This is an upper level course designed to give the student practical experience in Total Quality Management principles. But more importantly, it’s an introduction to Lean and Six Sigma concepts, which are the principle methodologies being practiced today.

The principle method of instruction is lecture, with interactive discussion and casework. This is a writing intensive course, and therefore, there are a number of projects requiring a paper to be submitted for credit. They should be submitted by e-mail attachment on the day they are due. A deduct of 5 points per day will be enforced on late papers.

This is a very intensive course. Falling behind by missing class is a sure way to destroy your grade. I do not have time to repeat myself in class if you miss a session. Ask your friends to bring you up to speed, or better yet, DON’T MISS ANY CLASSES!

REQUIRED TEXTS:

M&IS 44150, TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT,

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE:

1.    To acquaint the student with the many theories on Quality Management in an effort to provide a pragmatic approach to quality in the workplace.

2.    To acquaint the student with the different perspectives which managers and functional departments approach quality.

3.    To acquaint the student with the case method. By the study of relevant cases, the student should be able to infer the theoretical basis for actions and solutions found in the cases. This gives the student a real world access to practical applications of sometimes very abstract theory.

4.    To acquaint the student with the principles of Six Sigma Quality Systems and methodology.

5.    To acquaint the student with the principles of Lean Production Systems

6.    To give the student the equivalent of a Green Belt training program in industry. A certificate of completion will be provided to students upon successful completion of this course.

EXAMS:

There will two exams, a mid-term and a final. The tests will be typical multiple choice and short essay type questions.  The final, because it will be in a computer lab will be quantitative, using the templates and programs we will develop during the course. These will all be open book, open notes and will be e-mailed to me on the due date. The mid-term exams will be take home with the test posted on the class web-site on flash-line, on the Friday of the exam week. You will have the weekend to do the exam and then e-mail it to me by Sunday evening no later than 5 PM.

To earn the Green Belt equivalency Certificate, you must pass the final with a minimum grade of 72.5%.

 ASSIGNMENTS:

There are a number of assignments listed on the class schedule attached. They are due on the date indicated on the schedule.

Readings: Readings that bear on the content of the course are also assigned and will be available on my electronic reserve site through the library reserve system. The super secret password is quality32.  You access the library reserves in the following manner:

library / services / course reserves / ERes system / course pages by instructor / scroll down to SMAS / password is quality32 / click on MIS 44150,

and there are all the articles for you as well as cases.  You are expected to be able to discuss the readings and the relevance to the current material being studied in the class. Some readings will be posted on the Vista Web site.

Problem Sets: There are quite a few problems assigned during this course. You will do these problems and enter them into a journal.  I will not collect this journal because of the logistics issues, but they will be of extreme value for you on the final.

Projects You are required to do five projects this semester. Each project must be completed and a paper describing the outcomes will be presented. These can be e-mailed to me from the distant classes. Note, this is a course on quality, and the papers must reflect good quality in writing and structure. The case method presented on the first day of class must used for all projects.

GRADING:

There are a total of 900 points available to determine your grade. The following is the break down by subject, which will determine your final grade.

Test One                   100 points

Project One              100

Project Two             100

Project Three          100

Project Four                        200

Project Five             100

Final                           200

Totals                     900 points

GRADING:

I will use plus / minus grading this semester. Thus the grading for the course is as follows: These are on percentages

92.5 – 100 %  POINTS                                            A

89.1 – 92.4                                                                A –

86.0 – 89.0                                                                B+

82.5 – 85.9                                                                B

79.1 – 82.4                                                                B-

76.0 – 79.0                                                                C+

72.5 – 75.9                                                                C

69.1 – 72.4                                                                C-

<69.0                                                                          D

<59.0                                                                          F         

According to new University Guidelines the grades are converted to your grade point average by the following rules:

A   = 4.0

A-  = 3.7

B+ = 3.3

B   = 3.0

B-  = 2.7

C+ = 2.3

C   =  2.0

C-  =  1.7

D+  = 1.3

D    = 1.0.

F    =  0.0