Engineering Technology curriculum generally provides wide spread knowledge in problem solving, management of resources, and process planning. Quality Control is a key skill required by Engineering Technologists, who work in project-driven manufacturing companies. An Industry Advisory Council for a university in Louisiana expressed the need for quality control trained graduates, and worked with Engineering Technology faculty to develop a post-baccalaureate certificate program focused on quality control.
This paper discusses the development of a post-baccalaureate industry certificate program in quality control. It starts by identifying the need for quality control knowledge and skills. After that it discusses the key components for quality control body of knowledge. These components led to identifying relevant course topics to include: Statistical Analysis, Economics, and Quality. These topics were used to evaluate university curricula to identify what existing courses can be used to deliver the required knowledge and skills. Furthermore, the developed certificate is offered both face-to-face and online, hence the paper discusses adaptations of content to facilitate delivery in these different environments. The paper concludes by providing directions for future development of the certificate.
Dr. Ali Ahmad is the Director of Operations for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) of Louisiana, which operates under the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. Dr. Ahmad is a professional with over 16 years of experience in industrial engineering, research and management fields. He was previously an Associate Professor and Head of the Engineering Technology Department at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. He obtained his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida. Dr. Ahmad has diverse expertise in human-computer interaction, quality engineering, and simulating manufacturing systems. Ali worked on projects related to transfer of training, user-centered design, process improvement, and virtual environments. Dr. Ahmad is a Certified Simulation Analyst and a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt.
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