MSCI 767Management of Quality

This course provides an introduction to quality management by examining the philosophies, practices, tools, and decisions involved in the management of quality. An applied approach is used in this study. The course begins with a general overview of quality, including the various ways of defining and measuring quality and the Cost-of-quality model. This culminates in an introduction to total quality (TOM) and its three cornerstones: continuous improvement, customer focus, and total organizational involvement. The remainder of the course examines these cornerstones in greater detail. The objectives of the course are: (1) to develop an appreciation for importance of managing the quality at all levels, and stages of the organization, (2) to introduce techniques for defining, monitoring, and improving quality, and (3) to encourage critical thinking about issues in managing quality, within the organization, and in society in general. Priority may be given to Management Sciences students.