Quality Assurance

A study of the fundamentals of Quality with an emphasis on the current international standards, planning, organizations, methods and tools. Emphasizes the works of leading international Quality theorists, especially Juran and Deming.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

Prerequisites: MAT 131. Introductory overview of the fundamentals of measurement with emphasis on application of measurement science concepts to quality management. Upper Division

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

Prerequisites: MAT 153, QAS 200, QAS 220. Interpretation of basic engineering drawing concepts, including all related common symbolism and formatting. Emphasis on dimensions, tolerances, and configuration management. Introduction to Military and Federal Specifications/Handbooks, ANSI, IEC, and ISO documents, specifications and recommended practices issued by private organizations.

Offered Spring

Prerequisites: ENG 110, THE 120. Technical communications, written and oral, and how they differ from non-technical writing and speech. Emphasizes methods for the positive and unambiguous transfer of technical ideas so that they can be clearly understood by the reader or listener.

Offered Summer

Prerequisites: MAT 131, QAS 200, QAS 220. Introduction to the application of statistical methodologies to the analysis and solution of quality and management problems (including probability concepts, control charts, and sampling). Focus will be on application of these tools to the inspection process.

Offered Fall

Prerequisites: QAS 312. Introduction to the fundamentals of manufacturing, where the conversion of raw materials and sub-assemblies into more useful entities adds value to the converted materials in the most efficient manner, using the least amount of time, money, space and manpower.

Offered Fall

Prerequisites: MAT 131, PHY 122, QAS 200, QAS 220. Electrical measurement concepts, circuits and devices; applications to DC and AC measurements. Theory of coupled circuits in magnetic and capacitive environments, and electrical laboratory practices, with analysis, construction, and troubleshooting of circuits. Documentary control procedures for calibrations and other measurements.

Offered Spring

Prerequisites: QAS 200. The fundamental principles for preparing and planning, conducting, reporting and closing quality audits. Quality audit tools and techniques are introduced, with an emphasis on generally-accepted quality audit practices that support business performance.

Offered Fall

Prerequisites: MAT 131, MAT 153, QAS 200, QAS 220. Theoretical versus actual measurements. Probability and statistical concepts to define accuracy, precision, error, uncertainty, and bias. Differences between measurement accuracy and measurement error; random and systematic error; uncertainty interval; tolerance limits; accuracy ratio; relative errors; and propagation of measurement errors.

Offered Spring

Prerequisites: PHY 122, QAS 200, QAS 220. Measurement of length, angularity, relative position, flatness, parallelism, concentricity, squareness, and threads. Lasers and optical tooling in large-scale measurements; also gauges, comparators, and measurement machines. Measurement uncertainties pertinent to dimensional metrology; sources of error; the effect of the measurement environment.

Offered Infrequent

Prerequisites: PHY 122, QAS 200, QAS 220. Theoretical and practical applications of measurement principles as applied to various physical properties. Measurement of pressure, mass, force, torque, temperature, humidity, flow, and rotational motion. Identifying sources of error, techniques to minimize errors and maintaining measurement traceability.

Offered Infrequent

Prerequisites: MAT 131, MAT 153, QAS 200, QAS 220. Reliability, maintainability, and safety technology with practical industrial applications. Basic models; metrics; testing; methods of implementing improvements; accelerated life testing. Failure mechanisms for chemical, electro-chemical, electronics, electro-mechanical and opto-electronics systems. Introduction to software reliability. Focus on qualification for ISO 9000.

Offered Spring

Prerequisites: QAS 200, QAS 220. Deals with the strategies and practices of lean production, as well assess with areas of waste, interrelationships among the various components of a system, theories of leadership and management of people, and process variation.

Offered Spring

Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor. An intensive study of an issue, concept, or theory in Quality Assurance that is of special interest to both the faculty member and the student. Repeatable course.

Offered As needed

Prerequisites: QAS 200, QAS 220. Quality factors involving customer satisfaction, demonstrating that meeting quality needs requires and active role by all the major sectors of an organization. Operational and statistical techniques most often used to monitor, control, and improve the quality of products or services.

Offered Fall

Prerequisites: QAS 200 and QAS 220. Integrates Quality, Manufacturing and Procurement efforts to identify and eliminate the root causes of failures in systems, sub-systems and components, emphasizing fault tree and Pareto analyses. Hardware and statistical analysis, design of experiments, and technical data package evaluations.

Offered Fall

Prerequisites: QAS 200, QAS 220 and consent of instructor. Used value received, as perceived by the customer, as the primary measure of quality in the development of cohesive enterprise-wide quality management systems. A systemic approach to establishing the correct things to do and a measurement -based process for implementation.

Offered Spring

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. Independent study of a particular problem under the direction of a member of the Quality Assurance Department. Repeatable course.

Offered Infrequent

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor. An intensive study of an issue, concept, or theory in Quality Assurance that is of special interest to both the faculty member and the students. Repeatable course. Three hours of lecture per week.

Offered Fall, Spring

Prerequisites: Completion of all 300 level courses in the major. Assignment in an off-campus internship with a cooperating organization, to be selected in consultation with the program coordinator. Emphasis on the role of professionalism and ethics in the life of the quality professional.

Offered Infrequent

Prerequisites: Completion of all 300 level courses in the major. Directed research on one or more topics to be selected in consultation with the program coordinator. Emphasis on the role of professionalism and ethics in the life of the Quality professional.

Offered Fall, Spring

Prerequisites: QAS 496 or QAS 498. A capstone project focusing on the role of leadership in relation to professionalism and ethical standards in the field of Quality Assurance. Graduate

Offered Fall, Spring

Prerequisites: undergraduate calculus, Probability and statistics. A study of measures of central tendency and dispersion, important discrete and continuous probability distributions, sampling theory, hypothesis testing and estimation. Linear regression and correlation will also be covered. The uses of statistics in testing, inspection, and production will be identified.

Offered Fall, Spring

A study of the functions and responsibilities of the quality organization. TQM concepts, quality function deployment, and the tools for continuous improvement are analyzed for sequence of use and development.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer, All terms

Prerequisite: QAS 510. Overview of reliability engineering. Use of mathematical models of predictions, confidence assessment, and systems reliability. Emphasis on practical applications for product or system design.

Offered Fall

Prerequisite: QAS 510. The application of advanced statistical methodologies to the analysis and solution of quality and management problems, including probability theory, control charts, sampling, regression analysis and the design of experiments. Focus on statistical process control and related quality technologies.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

Prerequisite: QAS 510. Analysis of statistical experimental design strategies. Planning of experiments for the best strategy and objectives.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

A comprehensive survey of human factors engineering theory, research and applications which are of particular relevance to quality assurance. A systems framework will be utilized, emphasizing feedback and interrelations among system components, including the human operator. Emphasis will be placed on operator constraints in the design of work processes, workplaces and instrumentation.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

Prerequisite: QAS 510 or consent of instructor. In-depth discussion of equipment, principles and techniques of measurement assurance.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

An in-depth examination of current theory and techniques in QA project management. Topics include description of project management techniques as well as procedures for evaluating their overall effectiveness and contributions to production and service quality.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer, All terms

Prerequisites: QAS 513 and QAS 514. Detailed study of procedures and methods for performing machine and process capability studies, troubleshooting production and test problems, and maintaining continuous production and process evaluation in manufacturing operations.

Offered Infrequent

Prerequisite: QAS 512. Advanced and detailed analysis of appropriate reliability models, life-cycle reliability prediction and assessment, accelerated test models and techniques, test parameter variation studies, test tailoring and program plans for various reliability test types, maintainability concepts, prediction and assessment techniques, and safety programs.

Offered Infrequent

A study of the theory and applications of reliability concepts as they relate to software design and implementation.

Offered Fall

Prerequisite: QAS 511 is recommended. A study of the ISO 9000 series of quality system standards with emphasis on manufacturing and service industry applications. The studies address the standards interpretation, documentation and implementation including preparation for and creation of internal and external audits.

Offered Fall

Prerequisite: QAS 511. Encompasses a study of the fundamental quality requirements attendant to the successful procurement and delivery of end item products or services. It includes the basic supplier issues of specifications, site inspection, selection, rating, certification, and related quality audits.

Offered Spring

Prerequisite: QAS 511. Study of Quality Metrics and their application throughout the life cycle of a product or service in a business entity. The study includes Quality Standards, Customer Satisfaction, Quality Tools, Continuous Improvement, Cost of Quality, Supplier and System auditing.

Offered Summer

Techniques for applying Statistical Quality Control (SQC) in controlling processes and delivering customer services. Examines methods for establishing and maintaining SPC, QC auditing and sampling and continuous improvement in various service industries.

Offered Fall, Spring

In-depth study of current methods for obtaining customer satisfaction. Examines techniques of determining customer needs and development of customer service strategy Quality Control criteria.

Offered Fall, Spring

Analyze processes used to deliver service and methods used to assure satisfaction. Examines the relationship of Strategic Quality Planning, the Delivery process, and the usage of TQC and Quality Assurance to achieve strategic goals.

Offered Fall, Spring

Prerequisite: QAS 511 is recommended. In depth analysis of current theory, empirical research and best practices related to effective implementation of Quality improvement methodologies that result in desired organizational change, both cultural and operational.

Offered Summer

Prerequisite: QAS 511 is recommended. In depth study of the theory and practices of lean production. Covers waste minimization, interrelationships among various components of a system, theories of leadership and management, and process variability reduction.

Offered Spring

Prerequisite: QAS 510 OR QAS 511are required. QAS 511 is recommended. In depth study of the application of the six sigma process; covers content of the methodology areas of Define Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control (DMAIC) including team concepts, project management, advanced statistical process control and techniques, and measurement systems analysis.

Offered Summer

Prerequisite: QAS 511 is recommended. In depth study of the theory and application of the quality management process, Quality Function Deployment, for designing customer requirements into products and services. Course will evaluate the tools of QFD and study their application in analysis of customer requirements.

Offered Summer

Examines operational and statistical techniques used to monitor, control, and improve the quality of services provided by healthcare. Considers the tools of Quality and their direct application to practical situations and healthcare processes.

Offered Spring

Prerequisite: QAS 511 is recommended. Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations to assure quality of medical devices and pharmaceutical products. Covers development, manufacturing, Quality management and organizational requirements of medical devices. Pharmaceutical regulations include personnel, facilities and equipment, process and product controls, laboratory and reporting.

Offered Spring

Prerequisite: QAS 511 is recommended. This course is designed to provide a practical interpretation of the food and drug laws and interpretations for professionals who are providing products or services in industries regulated by the Federal Food & Drug Administration.

Offered Spring

In depth study of quality control discipline as applied to medical device, pharmaceutical and/or biologies regulated environments. Topics include influencing discipline and applying models; methods that monitor, maintain and/or improve product or service quality; and operational efficiency.

Offered Fall

Prerequisite: QAS 511 is recommended. Risk Management as applied to FDA-regulated and other industries (product and process-related); emphasizes application of risk management tools, plan and program from inception of product and process including manufacturing process and field experience of the product, process or service.

Offered Spring

Prerequisite: QAS 511 is required. Designed to distinguish the characteristics of suspect/counterfeit items (S/CI) and how to mitigate and prevent their occurrences through the development of corrective and preventative action plans into common quality management systems by applying quality tools and methodologies.,

Offered Summer

Prerequisite: QAS 511 is required. Examines contemporary process-related issues and assesses how to develop a digital organizational self-assessment through the application of quality tools and methodologies that contribute to continuous improvement and organizational excellence as appropriate in Industry 4.0.

Offered Fall

Prerequisite: QAS 511 is required. Evaluates the various systems for laboratory accreditation and certification in compliance with industry and government regulatory requirements to assure safe and reliable products and services are provided for both industry and consumers through assessment and appraisal techniques.

Offered Fall

Prerequisite: Completion of 18 units in MSQA program. Provides students an opportunity to apply their MSQA acquired skills to encourage and enhance dialogue, reinforce comprehension, bridge the gap between theory and practice, develop analytical and critical thinking skills, and to solve practical industry-related problems.

Offered Fall, Spring

Focus on the application of Lean Six Sigma concepts and techniques to help in the problem-solving challenges that confront today's quality professionals. Builds a strong foundation for the quality professional in any sector.

Offered Fall, Spring

The Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) is a professional certification from the American Society of Quality (ASQ). Students holding this certification satisfy the elective course QAS 525. The ASQ CQA must be current when entered into the student transcripts.

Offered As needed

The Certified Manager of Quality-Organizational Excellence (CMQ-OE) is a professional certification from the American Society of Quality. Students holding this certification satisfy the elective course QAS 527. The ASQ CMQ-OE must be current when entered into the student transcript.

Offered As needed

The Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) is a professional certification from the American Society of Quality (ASQ). Students holding this certification satisfy the elective course QAS 536. The ASQ CSSBB must be current when entered into the student transcript.

Offered As needed

Prerequisites: Instructor and program Coordinator approval; QAS 510, QAS 511 and a minimum of five QAS courses recommended. Independent research or special project to be conducted in consultation with an instructor.

Offered Infrequent

A course of study designed cooperatively by student and instructor, and approved by the Program Coordinator, in which students apply quality assurance theory and principles to a particular occupational setting relevant to their professional interests and aspirations. Repeatable course. Three hours of lecture per week.

Offered Infrequent

Prerequisites: Completion of 18 units toward degree and GWAR. Directed reading and research, designed cooperatively by student and instructor and approved by the program coordinator, emphasizing application of Quality Assurance theory and principles to a particular occupational setting.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

Prerequisites: Completion of all other coursework in the degree program. The goal of all students enrolled in this culminating experience course is to complete a project under the guidance of an assigned instructor. It is the culminating learning experience of the program, and includes a significant written report. To meet the standards established by the faculty, the project must demonstrate a rigorous scientific approach to the quality profession.

Offered Fall, Spring

Graduate students who have completed their coursework but not their thesis, project, or comprehensive examination, or who may have other requirements remaining for completion of their degree, may maintain continuous attendance by enrolling in this course. Signature of graduate program director required.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer