SYLLABUS:

M&IS 44150

TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT

SUMMER I, 2009

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, 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. Take care to use proper spelling, grammar, and paragraph construction. These papers should be of very high quality…no dog-eared corners because you forgot to staple…no handwriting of your name because you forgot to put it on the cover page. You will lose major points for this.

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.

TESTS:

There will two tests, 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.

 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 quality39.  I will give you some idea how to access these materials during the semester. You are expected to be able to discuss the readings and the relevance to the current material being studied in the class. You will earn participation points for these readings.

Problem Sets and Discussion questions: There are quite a few problems and discussion questions assigned during this course. You will do these problems and discussion questions and enter them into a journal which will be collected at the end of the course.  

Projects You are required to do five 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.

Participation: You are expected to contribute during case and readings discussions.  As this is V-tell class, and students are prone to hide off camera, I will insist that all students are on camera during active class periods. I need also a brief bio and picture of you due by the end of the first week. This will count 15 points of your participation grade. You can send it to me via e-mail. I use this to acquaint myself with students and my participation grade is based on my recall of your participation throughout the semester.

GRADING:

There are a total of 1000 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                        100

Project Five             150

Journal                      100

Participation:           150

Final                           100

Totals                     1000 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