D5 Quality Project

INTRODUCTION

This module allows students to demonstrate their ability to integrate knowledge and skills, which have been acquired from modules incorporated in the Diploma.

A pre-requisite for this module is achievement of at least 3 of the core Diploma modules (D1, D2 & D3).

To assist students to prepare for the project, all course modules contain assignment work, which require independent study. They also provide for the development of communication, design and research skills, all of which are regarded as necessary attributes for this module.

Students have to complete a research project. Often this project takes the form of a work based assignment, which with no exaggeration has resulted in the student achieving hundreds of thousands pounds worth of quality improvement and productivity savings for their company. The cost of the module pales into insignificance when compared to the possible organisational savings and greatly enhanced staff potential. Some of the projects that QM&T have had the good fortune and pleasure in assessing, possess a major wow factor.

AIMS

• To provide students with experience of independent work at a professional level
• To provide a context for the application and integration of knowledge and skills acquired during the course
• To further develop initiative, critical self awareness and self reliance
• To develop personal qualities and communication skills to a level essential for professional development
• To foster scholarly activity and to develop the necessary skillssix weeks before the exams are due to take place. See QM&T Team

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

• Plan and instigate a quality related project from conception to realisation
• Report the outcomes of a quality related project in writing to a target audience of experts
• Specify technological, commercial and social objectives within technical and human constraints and statutory requirements
• Plan their own time and workload, and co-ordinate their activities to meet specified objectives and guidelines
• Access and use relevant information sources and databases
• Analyse and critically evaluate relevant theory and literature

Research Project
The Project Proposal form provided in the package has to be submitted before a student commences the project. The form will help a student identify an area of research within an organisation and then logically think through the approach they wish to take. This will be submitted to CQI for approval and returned to the student with comments made by the examiner / moderator.

It is likely therefore that the research will be one of two broad types:

1. A critical review of how the organisation conducted a recent project, e.g. the change over to ISO 9001: 2000. This should not simply describe how the organisation did this. The literature review would reveal issues in, for example, implementing ISO 9000. The fieldwork would collect data about how the organisation went about implementing ISO 9000.
   
2. A critical evaluation of a technique/approach to quality management that the organisation is considering using. This should not simply describe the technique/approach, but should explore the issues that the organisation should be aware of that are already in the existing literature, e.g. benefits, difficulties to overcome. The fieldwork element would concentrate on exploring how these particular issues might impact on the candidate's organisation.
   

What is an appropriate project?
It is likely that it will be based on a project that has already been carried out in the candidate's organisation, e.g. the change over to ISO 9000: 2000, or a topic that the organisation is interested in evaluating, e.g. whether the organisation should use six sigma methodology.

ISBN: 1-904302-09-2