COURSE SYLLABUS

Quality Assurance 4352

Fall 2011
Instructor: Dr. Bruce Marsh
Office Location: Rm 106
Office Phone: 593-2872
E-mail: drbmarsh@aol.com

Meeting Time: Tues 6:00 to 9:50 PM

Meeting Place: IT-111
Office Hours: TR 3:00-5:00 pm
MW 12:00-5:00 pm

Description: ITEN 4352 - Quality Assurance - 3 credit hour course centering on the methods used to ensure quality
production through the measurement and maintenance of desired product characteristics in manufacturing processes.
Prerequisite: Math 1316 or equivalent
Textbook. There are two required textbooks for the class (both available in the university bookstore).
(1) Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook, 2004, George, Maxey, Rowlands, and Price, McGraw-Hill Publishing,
ISBN 9780071441193, bookstore price new, $16.95, price used, $12.70;
(2) New Lean Pocket Guide XL, Don Tapping, 2006, MCS Media, Inc.,
ISBN 9780977072019, $14.95 new, $11.20 used.
Recommended Textbook on Reserve in Library.
Besterfield, D. (2001). Quality Control 8th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.
Objectives and Outcomes: The purpose of this course is to help you develop knowledge and insight into the
procedures used in quality control and assurance activities. Objectives of this course include:

examining various methods and approaches used to achieve, sustain and improve the quality of a product or
service.
exploring the principles and techniques used to evaluate both continuous and attribute data.
enhancing skills in computer software that are used in quality assurance activities and data analysis.

Expected outcomes

demonstrate the ability to use and apply quality analysis tools and techniques within the Microsoft Excel
spreadsheet program through the completion of lab activities.
demonstrate the use and application of quality analysis tools and concepts through successful completion of the
mid-term and final exams.

Activities and Requirements. Various activities will be integrated into this course. Through assigned readings, you
will be exposed to a wide range of quality assurance issues and practices. During in-class discussions, you will be
given an opportunity to contribute to and learn more about topics from your readings. Through in-class activities
and out-of-class assignments, you will apply and reflect on topics that have been discussed in class and are
important issues and concepts in quality assurance. All work submitted will be considered final and evaluated as
such unless prior arrangements are made in advance.
Grading and Evaluation Criteria. Letter grades will be assigned based on the distribution of percentage points
earned throughout the semester. The percentage point distribution that will be used is as follows:
A
B
C
D
F

90 - 100.0%
80 - 89.9%
70 - 79.9%
60 - 69.9%
Less than 60%

Keep in mind that everyone starts the semester with an A or 100%. Consequently, its not what you do that earns
you your percent but what you dont do that decreases your percent.

Mid-term and final exams will be given during the weeks scheduled by the university. The chapters covered in
these exams are listed in the tentative schedule. Each of these exams will be worth 100 points and will be scored on
a 10 percentage point scale (i.e., 90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, etc). Mid-term and final grades will be based on a
weighted average of all assigned activities, and examinations. Final grades for the course will be based on the
following points and percentages:
Activity
Quizzes (10)
Lab/HW Assignments (10)
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Attendance and Participation

Activity Points
5.0
5.0
100.0
60.0
100.0
40.0
Total

Total Points
50.0
50.0
100.0
60.0
100.0
40.0
400.0

Percentage
12%
12%
25%
15%
25%
10%
100%

Additional Requirement. You must complete the safety training modules and pass the associated module test before
the 12th class day or you will not be able to participate in lab-based activities (course grade for class will be
affected). This is a mandatory requirement by the university. The modules will be completed online using
Blackboard; logon specifics can be seen by going to,
https://blackboard.tamuk.edu/webapps/login/
Need to complete all 12 Lab Safety Modules on Blackboard and print out the completion certificate and
present to your instructor so he can check you off the list.
Attendance Policy. Your attendance is expected at each scheduled class and/or lab activity. Individuals with three
or more consecutive absences during the semester may be dropped from the course.
Assignment/Lab Submittal Policies. To get full credit for a lab assignment you need be in attendance on the
day/session the lab assignment is given. Grade deductions of 50% for night classes and 25% for day classes will be
given for each session a given assignment is late beyond its scheduled due date. Any assignments that are due prior
to the mid-term exam will not be accepted for credit after the mid-term exam. Unless otherwise instructed, any
assignment that is due on or before the last day of classes will not be accepted for credit after the last class day. Any
assignment for which there is no work submitted will receive a zero. As a final note, since the number of quizzes
and assignments given during the semester normally exceeds the number used for final grade calculation, the lowest
quiz and/or assignment scores will be dropped. If the number of quizzes and/or assignments taken equals the
number required, all scores will be used.
Attendance and Participation Scoring. The points allotted for Attendance and Participation (A/P) will be calculated
based on the total number of summaries, quizzes, and labs completed during the semester. For example, if 34 points
are allotted for A/P and 12Q and 12L are given during the semester (a total of 24 activities) and only 20 are
completed during the course of the semester, the net effect on the A/P points earned would be as follows:
(34/24)*20 = 28.33 points. Consequently, it is to your benefit to complete more than the minimum number of
activities required for final grade calculation.
Course Content and Tentative Schedule. The schedule on the following page identifies the topics and activities that
will be covered during particular class dates. It also includes the assignments and readings that you will be expected
to complete prior to class. Any revisions to this schedule will be given at the earliest possible date but not less than
one week.
Supplemental References.
Smith, G. (1991). Statistical process control and quality improvement. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co.
Keats, B. J. and Montgomery, D. C. (1991). Statistical process control in manufacturing. New York:
Macmillan Publishing Co.
Disability statement:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive
civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students
with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their
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disability. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation please contact the Disability Resource
Center (DRC) as early as possible in the term. DRC is located in the Life Service and Wellness building at 1210
Retama Drive, or call (361) 593-3024.
Academic misconduct statement:
You are expected to adhere to the highest academic standards of behavior and personal conduct in this course and all
other courses. Students who engage in academic misconduct are subject to university disciplinary procedures. Make
sure you are familiar with your Student Handbook (see TAMUK website http://www.tamuk.edu/policy/ ).
Harassment /Discrimination:
Texas A&M University-Kingsville will investigate all complaints that indicate sexual harassment, harassment, or
discrimination may have occurred by the facts given by the complainant. Sexual harassment of anyone at Texas
A&M University-Kingsville is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Any member of the university community
violating this policy will be subject to disciplinary action. A person who believes he/she has been the victim of
sexual harassment, harassment, or discrimination may pursue either the informal or the formal complaint resolution
procedure. A complaint may be initially made to the complainants immediate supervisor, a department head, any
supervisory employee, the Dean of Students (593-3606), or the Office of Compliance (593-4758). Regardless of
who the complaint is filed with, the Compliance Office will be notified of the complaint so it can be investigated.
Six-drop policy:
The following provision (new in Fall 2007) does not apply to students with Texas public college or university
credits prior to Fall 2007. The Texas legislature has enacted a limit to the number of course drops allowed to a
student without penalty. After a student has dropped six courses, a grade of QF will normally be recorded for each
subsequent drop. If you need additional information on Senate Bill 1231 and how it affects you, please contact the
Registrars Office in College Hall, Room 105.

Tentative Schedule
Quality Assurance Fall 2011
Week

Session

Topics/Activities

Assignments

Week 1
Aug 30

Course Syllabus, Lab 0

Tape: Assembly Lines (50 minutes) EC-1
Introduction to Quality (C1, Notes 1)

Ref: Chapters 1, 2, and 3

Besterfield Book

Week 2
Sept 6

TQM: Principles and Practices (C2, Notes 2)

Quality Improvement Techniques (C3, Notes 3)
Quiz 1, Lab 1

Ref: Chapter 4
Besterfield Book

Week 3
Sept 13

Fundamentals of Statistics (C4, Notes 4)

Quiz 2, Lab 2

DUE: Lab 1
Ref: Chapter 4
Besterfield Book

Week 4
Sept 20

Fundamentals of Statistics (C4, Notes 4)

Quiz 3, Lab 3

DUE: Lab 2
Ref: Chapter 5
Besterfield Book

Week 5
Sept 27

Control Charts for Variables (C5, Notes 5)

Quiz 4, Lab 4

Week 6
Oct 4

Control Charts for Variables (C5, Notes 5)

Quiz 5, Lab 5
Exam 1 Review

DUE: Lab 3
Ref: Chapter 5
Besterfield Book
DUE: Lab 4
DUE: Lab 5
PREPARE FOR EXAM 1

Week 7
Oct 11

EXAM 1 (Notes 1-5, Labs 1-5)

Week 8
Oct 18

Six Sigma Quality (Notes 6)

Quiz 6, Lab 6

Ref: Chapter 6
Besterfield Book

Week 9
Oct 25

Additional SPC Techniques For Variables

(C6, Notes 7)
Quiz 7, Lab 7

DUE: Lab 6
Ref: Chapter 7
Besterfield Book

EXAM 2 (textbook exam, open book)

Note: cannot share textbook nor have
copies of textbook.
Week 10
Nov 1

10

Fundamentals of Probability (C7, Notes 8)

Quiz 8, Lab 8

DUE: Lab 7
Ref: Chapter 8
Besterfield Book

Week 11
Nov 8

11

Control Charts for Attributes (C8, Notes 9)

Quiz 9, Lab 9

DUE: Lab 8
Ref: Chapter 9
Besterfield Book

Week 12
Nov 15

12

Acceptance Sampling by Attrib. (C9, Notes 10A)

Quiz 10, Lab 10

DUE: Lab 9
Ref: Chapter 9
Besterfield Book

Week 13
Nov 22

13

Acceptance Sampling by Attrib. (C9, Notes 10B)

Quiz 11, Lab 11

DUE: Lab 10
Ref: Chapter 11
Besterfield Book
Review: ISO Handouts

Week 14
Nov 29

14

Reliability & ISO Handout

(C11, Notes 11A, Notes 11B)
Quiz 12, Lab 12

DUE: Lab 11
Read: Lean Production Notes

Week 15
Dec 6

15

Lean Production (Notes 12)

Quiz 13
Review for Exam 3

DUE: Lab 12
PREPARE FOR FINAL

EXAM
Week 16

16

EXAM 3 (Notes 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, ISO)

December 13th