Administrative Issues of this Course
What is in my eLearning Pack this Semester?
Detailed Weekly Schedule of the Course
Final Deadline to Submit ALL Assignments
Anonymous Total Quality Feedback Form
This is your latest, therefore the most current schedule. Last update: February 2, 2014 (Update history: January 6, 2014, November 23, 17, 7, 2013)
First, a few words about...
ASQ (American Society for Quality) Student Chapter at NJIT. ASQ is the largest quality society in the world. Join us, see what is ging on, hear and network with professionals! We have weekly short meetings at NJIT, as well as almost every month a really nice technical meeting with a presentation and FREE dinner (usually in a VERY nice restaurant in Newark, or New York City) with our parent section, ASQ Section 300. For the student membership Information PDF file: click here. More from your instructor, Dr. Ranky, the founding academic member of the NJIT ASQ Student Chapter. The actual ASQ Chapter Section 300 web site we are part of is here. Please consider joining ASQ. This is a perfect fit for this course as well as for the EM profession as a whole.
Please Read This Syllabus! It contains Vital Information about the course as well as all the Assignments, Homework and Grades! Without reading, understanding and following this syllabus you won't be able to get a good grade in this course. (Yes, I know it is long, and detailed, but it intends to answer ALL your questions.)
Academic Integrity: Please refer to NJIT's Academic Integrity web site that contains much information about strategies to promote academic integrity and avoid cheating on class work and exams (http://integrity.njit.edu/). Also, please refer to the Academic Integrity web site that contains much information about strategies to promote academic integrity and avoid cheating on classwork and exams. http://integrity.njit.edu/index.html. The “Best Practices” document developed and is published on the Provost’s website (on the policies page) or directly at http://www.njit.edu/academics/provost/docs/Best_Practices_related_to_Academic_Integrity.pdf
During the 2008-2009 academic year, the NJIT Administration worked very closely with the Student Senate to enhance and improve NJIT's Honor Code. The Committee on Academic Affairs and the NJIT Faculty approved the Student Senate’s recommendations developed from the findings of the University's Taskforce on the Honor Code. The approved document, “University Code on Academic Integrity” thus replaced the older Honors Code document. (http://www.njit.edu/academics/pdf/academic-integrity-code.pdf)
All students are responsible for upholding the integrity of NJIT by reporting any violation of academic integrity to the Office of the Dean of Students. (http://www.njit.edu/doss/) The identity of the student filing the report remains anonymous. NJIT will continue to adapt its policies and procedures to make clear that academic dishonesty will not be tolerated at this institution.
PLEASE save the TREES and be sustainably lean and green! Please DO NOT Print neither this syllabus, nor your homework assignments/ midterms, etc. Keep it all on the web in digital format. Use this web site to read it in this electronic format; it will be updated during the semester. Thank you!
The On-line Distance Learning / eLearning Class: Total Quality Management within an Analytical Sustainable Green & Lean Six-sigma Framework and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
Learn About Total Quality Management, within an Analytical Sustainable Green Lean Six-sigma Framework, based on a set of analytical, quantitative, graphical, mathematical, statistical and open-source computational methods and tools. Factory / process / system improvement methods and tools using lean six-sigma statistical methods. Our purpose is to help you to improve Total Quality in product, process and service system design, progress towards making your products, processes and service increasingly leaner and sustainably greener, explain Process Analytical Technologies (PAT), Good Automated Manufacturing Practices in pharmaceutical, and in other manufacturing industries, in IT/ IS, the 'Internet of Things' and how this old idea in a new package effects quality, and others. Furthermore we also focus on biomedical engineering quality applications, robotics and automation, urban planning and megacity quality, human error prevention / detection, and on various design and service industries; ALL with an engineering management quality focus!
In this course we learn analytical methods and tools, and apply them to solve real-world, practical challenges in industry and in R&D. With the aid of advanced 3D interactive multimedia, digital videos, and our analytical tools, that every student receives within their eLearning Packs we go on a virtual tour and analyze various factories, product, process and service systems and industries in the USA, Europe, Japan, China, and around the world, and then apply our quality-focused methods and tools to improve them; virtually any system, anywhere in the world. The eLearning Packs are customized and updated every semester. Also, there is a social networking component in the course.
Why is the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) so important?
The convergence of machines and intelligent data is known as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The Industrial Internet makes industries work better! This is a HUGE aspect of quality management and control. New ecosystems of connected machines have the potential to increase quality, efficiency, minimize waste, and make people operating them think and act smarter. The Industrial Internet is changing the way we design systems and make them work better, and better, and better...and at a higher level of quality at lower cost... The principles apply to ANY industry, nevertheless the core IIoT ideas were invented by engineers, therefore many of the first implementations are in engineering design, automation, processes, quality management and control, the airline industry, and others... all other industries will follow soon, since it is a HUGE waste reduction opportunity saving billions of $$$$... anybody NOT interested...?
High quality, sustainable green engineering is the next huge challenge for all of us! This course will help you to prepare for such challenges! As a result, as an engineering manager you'll lead this crucial change process towards iSEE:Green, intelligent Sustainable Enterprise Engineering with a Green focus! This is not just an excellent professional field of interest, but because of the waste reduction opportunities, also great business.
by
Paul G. Ranky, PhD
Full Tenured Professor
Registered Chartered Professional Engineer
Member of the American Society for Quality (ASQ), Audit Division and Lean Enterprise / Advanced Manufacturing Division. NJIT ASQ Chapter founding professor at NJIT. (Parent Section 300, New York / New Jersey, USA)
ISO (International Standards Organization) USA voting TAG (Technical Advisory Group) Member and ISO 50001 co-author (this is the NEW international Energy Management Standard!) Also Member of ISPE, International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers, USA, ASEE, IEEE, IEE, FEANI, SAE, PMI
IEEE Green Engineering Editor, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and the NJIT IS/ IT Program. NJIT, University Heights, NJ 07102 -1982
You can find out more about the Professor’s past and current research work and background at http://www.cimwareukandusa.com/aboutpgr.htm
This course introduces the concept of total quality management, and presents methods, tools, technologies and case studies for product, process and service quality improvement within an extended sustainable green lean six-sigma quality framework. The emphasis is on prevention through quality engineering, design, and implementation. Since we believe in zero defect, and we show methods, tools and technologies how to achieve zero defect, we go beyond traditional statistical process quality control methods and tools, although we integrate these valuable methods into our framework. We are keen advocates of feedback-controlled zero defect policies and methods versus random sampling-oriented open-loop quality control systems and solutions.
We present practical, as well as research-level cases and challenges focusing on system design / product / process / service system design, manufacturing, real-time systems, supplier and logistics management, project management, quality assurance, process control, construction management, pharmaceutical engineering / packaging, automotive assembly, electronic assembly, robotics, urban planning: megacities, large city quality challenges, marine pollution and quality challenges, and many other cases. We include competitor analysis as appropriate and we discuss analytical methods and tools to help this process in virtually any industry, anywhere in the world.
We learn about advanced process modeling, customer requirements analysis, process risk analysis, various statistical methods, TQM graphical methods, GAMP (Good Automated Manufacturing Processes for the Pharmaceutical industries), Six-sigma, quality auditing processes, lean and green sustainable methods, and an in-depth description of the ISO 9001:2008 international quality standard, a must for quality audits and certifications in most industries that want to stay in business for a long time... We also learn about web-page design, web-based knowledge documentation, knowledge management, social networking, and optionally even video conferencing over the web, when you do your quality assessment / data collection / audit briefings on a global basis.
All very new, exciting, and simultaneously analitical as well as practical course focusing on YOU, to help YOU to get a good job, and prosper in the corporate world, anywhere in the world, because quality is VERY important everywhere in the world. This course focuses on modeling and solving real-life quality challenges using a strong analytical foundation.
Some novel features of this class, that are going to help you to become a truly 21st century hi-tech professional...
Having worked through this class successfully, every student of mine will be able to:
You have a GREAT opportunity (if you work hard and truly want to achieve your dreams...)
These are the facts:
‘The U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculates that for every dollar of value created in manufacturing, $1.40 is created in associated sectors of the economy. Manufacturers account for roughly two-thirds of U.S. R&D expenditures, and employ more engineers and scientists than any other private-sector industry. The sector's goods make up more than half of U.S. exports and drive more net-wealth creation than any other part of the nation's economy.
But the skills gap holds back this important economic engine. Lacking adequate, if not superior supplies of human capital, and mired in a recession/slow-to-rebound economy, American manufacturing firms have focused on their survival and their shareholders, and sought the most expedient ways to address their talent shortages. And while many firms remain at the forefront of technology (think computers, medical devices, chemicals, machinery, aerospace, and military equipment), that lead is narrowing.
The nagging U.S. manufactured-goods trade deficit portends tougher times, unless it is reversed. In 2010, the nation ran an $81 billion deficit in high-tech manufactured products alone. This was a reflection of the talent gap, as were the consequential 687,000 high-tech manufacturing jobs the U.S. labor market lost to overseas production. That's a 28 percent decrease in the base of talent capable of producing high-tech, high-value good.’ (Ref.: The Manufacturing Executive Leadership Journal under the title '8 Steps for Closing the Skills Gap'. http://www.gilcommunity.com/groups/manufacturingleadership)
One of the key purposes of this course is to close this huge US skill gap.
A strong focus on creating "T-shaped people" who not only have a "deep technical education," but are also capable of "innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial sense."
I am pleased to state, that we have been following this approach for the past 15 years at NJIT with my students... I know, for some of you this is very, very different and unusual, and even difficult to accept, nevertheless PLEASE TRUST ME, that I am trying to help you to become VERY successful; this is why it is essential for all of us to follow these concepts:
The American Society of Engineering Educators Reports: Stanford's Engineering School Looks To Balance Traditional, Creative Approaches. Inside Higher Ed (May 14, 2010, Epstein) reports, "The undergraduate offerings at Stanford University's School of Engineering could be engaged in a tug of war." The program's current "emphasis on current state-of-the-art technical knowledge must be complemented with an openness to change," according to James D. Plummer, the school's dean. "We need to teach our students to be lifelong learners, to be able to keep updating themselves to be the best they can possibly be throughout their careers," he said. But retaining accreditation is important, "so rather than giving up on the bean-counting basics" Plummer has focused on creating "T-shaped people" who not only have a "deep technical education," but are also capable in terms of "innovation, creativity, [and] entrepreneurial sense." The article details Stanford's program, and some of the differing views on it. Inside Higher Ed notes that, overall, curricula have become "more holistic" since ABET began implementing its Engineering Criteria 2000 standards.
Let me share this with you: The 10 Principles Of Learning (ref.: http://www.peloruslearning.com/the-10-principles-of-learning)
1. Learners need to know where they are going and have a sense of progress towards their objectives.
2. The learning environment has to be one of trust, respect, openness and acceptance of differences.
3. Being aware of and owning the responsibility for learning lies with the learner. Others can only give information and support, and provide feedback.
4. Learners need to participate actively in the learning process.
5. Learning should be related to and use the learner’s experience and knowledge.
6. Learning is not only a basic capability but also a group of skills which can be developed and/or learned.
7. Facts, concepts and skills are learned in different ways.
8. Getting ideas wrong can be a valuable aid to developing understanding.
9. For learning to be processed and assimilated, time must be allowed for reflection.
10. Effective learning depends on realistic, objective and constructive feedback
6 Ways Six Sigma Can Transform Your Business… (Edited by Ranky, based on Amy Harri, who can be found on Google+ (Ref.: http://www.apriso.com/blog/2013/11/6-ways-six-sigma-can-transform-your-business/)
1. Increase Productivity
Utilizing people effectively at all times is a difficult task for any business, but especially for manufacturers who typically have a large workforce to manage that operates across different locations, regions, languages and cultures. Six Sigma can empower you to precisely measure time spent on direct and indirect activities and identify the root causes of low productivity. You may think you’re employing too many staff but find it’s actually insufficient training or supply chain issues that are holding up production. Applying a methodological approach across locations helps to provide clarity on what the real issue is, to then address it most effectively.
2. Reduce Costs
Defective processes cost money. Understanding operations with a view to improvement is one of the most efficient ways to reduce costs in any business. At the core of the Six Sigma methodology is its process improvement framework which consists of the following five steps: Define, Measure, Analyze, Implement and Control (DMAIC). In industry, statistically, this process has been shown to reduce problems to less than 3.4 defects per million opportunities. By spending less on reworking defective products, a company could typically reduce its cost of achieving quality by 20% and increase its operating revenue by 50%. Accomplish this improvement across multiple sites and you can literally transform your operations to a new level of cost effectiveness.
3. Improve Market Share
Companies that have been implementing Six Sigma correctly for some time have reported profit margin growth of around 20% each year for every Sigma process shift (up to about 4.8s – 5.0s). Sigma process shifts allow the operator to calculate how near (or far) a process is from Six Sigma. As most companies start around 3s, the earlier Sigma shifts have a dramatic effect on the amount returned to the company’s bottom line. Sustained improvements in profit margins over years empower companies to continue to create products and services with added features and functions, allowing them a consistently greater share of the market.
4. Increase Competitive Edge
How well a company performs in respect to customer-facing activities has a strong impact on revenue generation and forms a significant part of its cost structure. While every customer encounter is different, Sigma recognizes that having too many variables within customer-facing procedures can be as detrimental as it is in back-end processes – perhaps more so.Six Sigma will identify common components that can be standardized in order to dramatically enhance performance and provide the information needed to strengthen and improve consistency across customer relations. Data gathered can also be used to empower marketing strategies and put a company ahead of the competition.
5. Reduce Waste
Waste within a business and manufacturing environment can relate to many things apart from time, costs and materials. Six Sigma can help identify the unnecessary movement of information, people and products and reveal untapped employee creativity, ideas and skills.Referred to collectively as Lean manufacturing, excess work processes that add no value in the eyes of the customer can be a serious drain on resources. These activities can be eliminated, as can overproduction, by showing where to cut the manufacturing of products and output of services beyond the requirements of immediate use. In this way, Six Sigma can be an ideal complement to a Lean manufacturing program.
6. Increase Employee Satisfaction
Dealing with employee queries relating to the finer points of pay entitlements, terms of contracts and company regulations can eat into production time, frustrating employees and bog down HR and supervisory staff. Six Sigma can take the guesswork out of what qualifies as overtime, premium time and vacation allowance.Errors resulting in under and over-payments, and the time and effort it takes to correct them, can be eliminated. Enabling employees to access their own accurate and updated payroll data during their free time not only saves time but can be a real boost to staff morale too.
In conclusion, Six Sigma can be a powerful and strategic methodology to consistently measure results, which can then become a new baseline for improved performance, ultimately getting you closer and closer to operational excellence. Those organizations that can embrace this philosophy across their enterprise can effectively transform their manufacturing operations into a world class, unstoppable leader.
(Amy Harris can be found on Google+ Ref.: http://www.apriso.com/blog/2013/11/6-ways-six-sigma-can-transform-your-business/)
The 'USA needs more practical engineers...' says Bertoline, dean and distinguished professor at Purdue University’s College of Technology...
'The keynote topic was what was Gary Bertoline terms a “fatal flaw” in engineering higher education. The U.S. struggles to hire the people needed to fill technical positions. At least part of the problem: The engineering education system in this country has been built around scientifically oriented engineering curricula, producing theoretical engineers who have little knowledge of how to apply skills to real-world engineering jobs.
The problem grew out of a post-WWII mentality in which engineers thought if they didn’t get their hands dirty, they would be taken more seriously as professionals like lawyers and doctors. The movement created curricula with a lot of math, a lot of science, and a lot of theoretical representation of how to go about solving problems; unfortunately, not a lot of practical knowledge about how to work in today’s manufacturing industries.' More here:http://www.automationworld.com/operations/addressing-fatal-flaw-engineering-education?&spMailingID=6153877&spUserID=Nzg0Nzk5ODk2MQS2&spJobID=73661974&spReportId=NzM2NjE5NzQS1
(My position on the above is very clear: we need a strong analytical foundation, as well as good practical engineering and management skills. I am pleased to state, that this course offers a good balance between some exciting analytical as well as practical engineering knowledge and skills. (It is interesting to see though, that based on 15 years of student evaluations and feedback on this subject, almost every semester at NJIT, about 5 percent of the students do not want ANY practical engineering knowledge to be taught, or learned, or practiced... and the rest, about 95 percent or so want more and welcome the balance provided...)
IE673 is a simultaneously analytical, as well as practical course loaded with useful knowledge, that you can turn into continuous improvement opportunities in almost any factory, institution, or organization, or system. As much as possible, we all try to create a relaxed and happy learning environment in this class, and I try to teach you several new analytical methods and tools, that you can easily deploy in your REAL world, and prosper! My motto is: 'Happy Learning for REAL!'
As one of my former students, Major Jack Parker, US Army, National Guard Bureau, Training Division, Washington, DC states about the course:
'As I developed the assignments, I really could have spent the rest of the year going through the principles and methods I learned in this course. Your course materials provided a great education for me in TQM. I look forward to applying my new knowledge in the Army in every means I find possible and feasible. Thanks again for your great instruction and materials.'
Other former students write the following about the course:
I found each video to be very informative and want to thank you for the time you put into them because they are a great way to learn about industry.
James McArthur
Professor Ranky,
I fully enjoyed your class. I am using the materials I completed for my yearly review in my job. I have already shown them Assignments 1 and 2 months ago and they were very impressed. They are currently talking about giving me control of the Warranty Department entirely. Part of this is thanks to you and the coursework you provided me.
.... I seemed to have learned more than just TQM in your course.
Thank you again for an amazing text, valuable experience, and lessons beyond the syllabus. Enjoy your holiday and be well.
-Michael
It was really a good course that i took. Thank you for your guidance and informative lectures.
With Regards
Karthigeyan
I'm very happy I took this class, it has help me a lot to understand what is happening in the real world so thank you very much. Enjoy your holiday season.. Henry
Thank you for a great semester I'm sure the knowledge learned in this course will pay great dividends later on in my career.
Regards,
Chris
Dear Professor,
First of all, Thank you for the semester long teaching. I really enjoyed your class. The method of teaching, the approach, motivation that you have shown in the class is really incredible. Especially when you took us to the industrial engineering lab and asked us figure out what the machines are about. I loved it.
Once again, Thank you for the course and your valuable time,
Sincerely,
Boinipally
=========================
Dear Professor Ranky,
The way you have designed the course is just amazing. Helping us learn the TQM concepts and also make our own website simultaneously. I believe this course will help me in my future endeavors.
Best Regards,
Karishma
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Respected Professor,
I want to personally thank you for all the work you made us do, because of which I've learnt a lot specially in the Assignment 5, when I was working on all the Assigments I could analyze and recollect all the concepts and co-relate them with each other. I must Thank you specially for you Hard work and great efforts that you've put on this course to help us get a better picture and also for personally meeting each industry and diving schools and many more only to help us analyze different things and systems from all around the World. Its absolute pleasure working with you Professor and I'm proud to say that, now I've a clear view on this course and concepts you made us read in our e-learning pack, in our class and also with the assignments.
Once again, It was great pleasure working with you professor!
Thanks you,
Divya
========================
Hello Prof. Ranky,
Thanks a lot for your guidance Professor. Whatever you have taught me will help a lot in my future.
Thank You
Regards,
Karan
========================
My name is Bedwuine. I am a current student of IE 673.I would like to Congratulate you personally for putting this wonderful class together because i was granted a new position as a Quality Engineer on Monday and i saw all the TQM tools are useful for My new position such as process analysis, C-Chart, P-chart, Cora tools,Risk analysis, Non-Conformance.and i will be dealing with CAPA as well. i was qualified for that position because i updated my resume with the TQM six sigma focus course and it bears fruit...Thanksssssssssssssssssssssss a lotttttttttttttttttttttttt.......Dr Ranky..........looking forward for concurrent engineering.....
Thank you again for everything Professor Ranky. Wanted to know if its alrite that I stop by next semester from time to time for advice and gudiance. The truth is I don't have a mentor and was contemplating asking you because I didn't want to come off bothersome. Being a 27 yr old living by myself here in the states with 1 sibling , I strongly need to build my network and thank you also for stressing that and being detailed. I would also like to attend the asq dinners that take place. Thank you for your words of advice and happy holidays to you and your family.
Hello Professor
As always thank you very much for your guidance for this course. Your course always helped me professionally in my career.
It was pleasure during the IE 673 in 2009 & also in IE 655-2012., it helped me a lot.
Kindest Regards
Tejinder
Respected Prof.,
It was my pleasure to have you as a instructor for the class total quality management.
Through this class I learned something that I never thought of.
I can say that this class will help me in future, is for sure.
Once again, professor, thanks a lot for giving me such an excellent learning experience.
After reading your E-book and going through your comments, I have corrected my mistakes.
Thanks for giving a chance to learn from mistakes.
thanks.
Mayurkumar
Dear Prof. Ranky:
Thank you for your effort and hard work on grading all the
assignments. You are a really nice professor.
Best Regards
Yijun
Dr. Ranky,
I would like to thank you for teaching us the course. I truly enjoyed this class and found the methodologies you taught us to be highly beneficial and useful. I look forward to applying them in the real-world.
Thank you,
Mostafa
Dear professor Ranky,
I really would like to thank you for your effort and dedication to TQM. I have attended all the classes throughout the semester because i didn't want to loose any single opportunity to learn something new. I can not forgot that day of ASQ meeting. It was really nice to meet everybody.
What i like about this subject is to learn something new, something that no one else teaches. Though i am not a computer science student, i learn how to make webpage. And all that with the help of one of my computer science friend in this class. And now i can not believe that i have my own webpage. I have no doubt that this and other several things which i learnt in this subject will be helpful throughout my life. I want to thank you for all of that. I want to thank you for bringing us this course and the way you teach this subject is absolutely unique.
In my whole life, i have never ever seen any professor teaching in way in which i feel excitement and inspiration. Thank you for all of your dedication to quality and its management. I am glad that i can say that i studied under the professor who is co-author of ISO standards, and he is a quality person and a unique person in real sense.
Well, i just dont want to stop writing as i have so many things to say. But it was all my pleasure to take your class.
Thank you very much for being a part of my education life.
Regards,
Parth
Hello Dr. Ranky
... it was my ULTIMATE pleasure taking your class this semester.
You literally improved and accelerated my work career and for that, I will ALWAYS
be grateful for you.
Really again, I am extremely thankful for you and your class and
really look forward to taking your class again!
Best Regards,
Oladipo
Hello Dr Ranky,
I just wanted to let you know this was an amazing class,
I have truly learned alot and it certainly brought lots of memories
from bachelors as i have taken a class with you in Bachelors too.
FYI, I will also be taking Project Management with you during summer session.
Again, thank you for all your help during the class. It has
truly helped me alot to open and address projects at T. Co.
Regards,
Pratik
Dear Prof Ranky:
Unfortunately, I was unable to catch-up so I had to drop the class.
It is an excellent class and I plan to take it again.
Thank you,
D.
Dr Ranky,
... I would like to thank you for your support and I'm happy for the knowledge
on total quality aspects that I gained through out this course and wish to
receive your valuable suggestions for the rest of my life as your student.
Thank you very much,
Venkata
Dear professor Ranky:
I have finished the assignment 5. I read your eBook and watch videos several times very carefully.
I hope my work could meet your requirement.
And I really want to say Thanks to you, thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
I really learned a lot from your class.
Have a great safe summer break.
Best regards,
Ye
Thanks Professor Ranky for everything you did for me.
I really enjoyed your class.
best regards,
Albisher
Hello Prof Ranky,
First of all I would like to express my gratitude for the wonderful learning experience I gained from IE673 fall 2012 live class. In addition to thoughtfully designed course structure this course has provided me a multifaceted exposure. I appreciate the dedication with which you have designed truly amazing eBook. The eBook is quite informative and the best part is the way new technologies have been embraced in designing it. Sir, Your course has really helped me a lot gaining useful total quality management principles. I remember you quoting once in class how important it is even for pharmaceutical companies to adopt total quality management principles. Being a Pharmaceutical Systems Management student I would like to learn more which could help me in real life.
Thanks Regards, S
Let me share with you a recent HAPPY Learning for REAL student email I got from a previous student who just got a job... see how does this work...
(Pls. note, that I have deleted the actual VERY large USA company names from his email)
Professor Ranky,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you very very much for your effort on TQM. I am pursuing a Masters degree in Biomedical Engineering and I enrolled in your TQM class in the Spring 2009 semester, as an elective. The additions that your class has made to my resume, have helped me land interviews at A Corporation as a Reliability Engineer; and B Corporation as an Industrial Engineer. Even more; when the hiring manager at A Corporation asked me over the phone for a sample of my work, I referred him to the website I created for your class. The next day they invited me for an in-house interview that -for the most part- the printouts of the CORA, CIMpgr & DFRA I created for the class, were the topics of discussion. The same story repeated on my B Corporation interview.
Finally, I am delighted to inform you that A Corporation has extended me a generous offer that I cannot turn down. B Corporation will need 4 weeks to decide.
I am indebted to you and I would like to again thank you very much for your terrific effort and dedication putting together and conducting your TQM class.
Sincerely,
M
Dear Prof. Dr. Ranky:
Thank you very much, for showing something different which I never thought of. Distance learning is definately unique and helpful from different perspectives.
Through out the summer session, its been great to explore and learn from your class. I appreciate all your efforts in commenting all the assignments in detail. I personally learned and improved a lot by reading and understanding them and they just made me to do better everytime.
This knowledge will certainly be helpful through out the journey at my work.
As of today, I still haven't received any emails from the Registrar's office, for course feedback, which we usually receive them at the end of the semester during the Fall and Spring.
So, I have asked and requested to Registrar's office, for Course Evaluation form or link, which in my opinion, will enhance the course settings, and give some feedback as well.
I will see you in September 2011 for IE 655 distance learning class.
Thank you and Enjoy the rest of the summer
Regards,
Tushar V Patel
MS Ind Eng.
Hello Professor Ranky,
I hope all is going well. I was one of your distance learning students in your IE 673 course last Fall Semester 2009. It was a great course. I had to work hard, and I learned a lot about Total Quality Management. I was fortunate to have received an A grade in the course and I am very grateful to you for that. I was inspired by you and this course to join the American Society for Quality and I am currently a member of this organization.
I have recently graduated from NJIT with a Master of Science in Engineering Management (GPA 3.95/4.00). I have over 20 years of experience in Information Technology and management with major companies most recently with UPS. I am a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) and will be sitting for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam on May 1st of this year. I am also a member of Tau Beta Pi the engineering honor society.
Best regards and thanks,
Richard
Hello Prof. Ranky,
As far as your class, it would probably be best described as 3-dimensional in comparison to other courses. The explanation here encompasses several aspects. For starters, most courses ask for either technical performance in the form of equations, understanding theory and applying them to similar problems which ultimately yield a definitive answer in the form of numbers or DNE formats. OR they usually require a management approach in terms of heirarchy, understanding different forms of diplomacy, structures and concepts. Most courses use a combination of both technical or mathematical and conceptual or theoritical techniques and applications to emphasize traditional management tools and functions. These courses are 2-dimensional in that there is a correct answer for every question, meaning there is the information(text/lecture) and the questions(exams). In this format, students can either choose to thoroughly learn the material, take the tests and do fine or memorize (short-term) the necessary information to do well and move on. I prefer the former method (in an effort to make the most of money spent) whereas most utilize the latter.
Your class (either intentionally or unintentionally) is designed so that we must learn the material in order to perform the projects. In addition, the concept of developing a new company as well as a new TQM utilizes the course concepts and materials in another dimension. Meaning, rather than the standard format of exams, the utilization of the course material in an open format forces us to fully grasp the material and then go further by applying it to a new idea. The application of the material (4 different partnering companies for EVERY student) keeps the projects different and randomn/unique. Thus the fundamental concepts of your work are thoroughly being taught and absorbed by us (the succesful ones who do not fail) in a real experience rather than just breifly memorizing the behavior and outcome of a theory for the sake of an exam or midterm.
I am not the greatest when it comes to writing or describing my thoughts as this may all sound combined. I am nearly finished with my graduate degree and based on my experience, the course is unique from all courses I have taken thus far. It appears to be intense and extensive and although I am impressed and excited by the dedication apparent throughout the text and videos, I am also very much intimidated and timid in meeting satisfactory requirements as the concepts appear beyond what any of us as students could possibly recreate at this point in our lives let alone a semester.
Ted
Total Quality Management DL
Hetaben Mulani
Respected sir
Myself Hetaben Mulani, I am very much thank you for giving me good grade and learned me good innovative work which is important in the industries.
I also improved my thinking as innovating and i enjoyed all the assignment works.
Thank you
Sincerely,
Hetaben Mulani
I have taken total quality management & concurrent engineering with you.
I had wonderful experience & I have learned a lot in class too.
I can just say that these two courses will help me in future,,,& it just real !! I liked the real learning.
Thanks again Professor & merry christmas!
Thank you,
Pratha Joshi
Good Evening Professor Ranky,
It was alot of fun taking your class and will still stay in touch afterall my home country needs assistance in going GREEN. Thank you very much.
Sincercely,
Adebola Adeyeba
Thank You Professor Ranky.
It is more important to me what i have gained out of this course and i might not be really good in these tools right now but i am planning to keep using them until i get a really good. I really appreciate all your help.
Thank You and have a great vacation.
Hasan Mahmood
Thanks for a great class, I learned a lot and I will continue to absorb the material in the eBook.
Thank you very much.
Carol Sinclair
Professor Ranky,
Thank you for the great course, I'm looking forward to take another course of yours. I learned a lot and will definitely recommend your course to my friends.
Please let me know if i need to make any changes to my course work.
Sincerely,
poshya cherukuri
Dr. Ranky,
This truly was the best assignment I had done so far in this sem. I had so much fun, and I feel like I have learned so much. Thank you professor for all your help throughout the semester.
Thanking you again
Balavignesh Thirumalainambi
Hello professor
thank your for the grades professor. i really enjoyed your class, the course really helped me understand the basic structure of TQM
thank you once again
praveen
Professor Ranky,
My Comments about course - First of all thank you very much for everything. It was a wonderful, unique and most exciting course I have come across. Becuase of this course only I am able to save money for my comapny doing some web designing for them. I completely agree with you not able to answer our emails asking questions which are answered in syllabus. As a matter of solution I would suggest if you can have a TA assisting you in this work would help a lot to you and students as well. I have no doubts that syllabus is designed ver nicely but specially as a DL student I would like to have some sort of easy communication with my professor/TA as email is the only way of communication.
Professor, this was a great class as ever taken.
This semester I have learnt lots about quality aspects need to follow in any industry.
This class taught me about the necessity to follow quality standards and their benefits too.
At the end, as I am thinking, very important class was Quality audit of company. That class guided me to understand more in depth about the standards and procedure need to implement in company.
Most important about this class was, it was totally based on practical teaching approach. In this class, we needed to form our company using given study material, and then needed to implement all quality standard methods and tools to control operations inside the industry.
I enjoyed watching that videos too, that gives me more practical vision to understand importance of quality and international standards.
Professor, this is my last semester at NJIT as I am almost done with my academic courses required to complete degree.
Next week, I am flying back to home country, INDIA forever. We have well going business there. I will join my family business office there.
In India, we do different businesses but our main concentrated sector is Construction. We also run Undergradute Engineering Institutes too.
As a part of our business expansion, this year we also got approval for our own private 250 MW coal-fired Power plant. Soon we will start construction of same.
Professor, thank you very much for giving such an excellent learning experience.
Thank You.
Regards
Shrikant Bhangdiya.
Professor Ranky
Thank You for the great information in this course. I learned a lot of new tools to do my job better. The best thing was that we were able to apply those tools for practice and the course material will always be a great resource. Currently i am trying to use these tools specially CIMpgr model. I will try to introduce remaining tools as i get a chance.
Thank you for you support through out the semester also and have a great holidays.
Hasan Mahmood
Dr Ranky,
1. My Dream Job: To eventually become a senior project manager in the building construction industry.
2. The way in which I hope to get there is to always apply the same methods of organization and enhancement at every level. From beginning of a job, all the way down to final third party commissioning.
3. The most insightful tool I've learned from this course was the way in which I gained a sense of quality enhancement. I am no longer doing tasks by the book, but I am forever trying to apply new methods and more efficient means of getting tasks done. Using feedback from past experiences, I learned how to justify future enhancements.
Thanks,
Peter
Hi Professor,
I wanted to send you an email to answer your questions. I believe at this time my dream job would be to be a quality engineer. Currently, I work as a quality supervisor because I know that the experience will be beneficial and needed to make the transition. Also, I took a project management course in order to understand how a project is managed. With my PM course, I am planning to become certified PM.
Also, I need to learn Visio and Access. Your course definitely exposed me to the tools that quality engineers use to improve processes and control quality systems. It was very helpful in being able to apply the theoretical information that we were learning. Your class really challenged me and caused me to really comprehend what you were talking about. I appreciate that more now.
Thank you for this semester.
Regards,
Stacy
Dr. Ranky,
Hello professor. The course has been really helpful and helped me realize a lot about the industry as i dont have any experience. The CD was really helpful and helped me a lot in getting to know the various procedures and aspects that a product needs to go through. Running my own company felt really fulfilling and satisfying. The videos also helped a lot in getting to know the various standards that are opted by the companies today. Overall this course was a great one and we are really privileged to have you as our professor. Thank you very much for the vast knowledge that u have provided us about TQM. :)
Ayshvar
Dear Professor Ranky,
Below is the web url where I have posted all my assignments for the
course IEE 655(Concurrent Engineering) & IE 673(TQM).
In addition to the evaluation form i would like to thank you also for
the amount of knowledge you have helped me gain through these courses.
I have been also working at Sanofi Aventis pharma on a Unit Dose
Conversion Project.These principles of CORA, PFRA, Cimpgr model etc
have been of immense help to me for the projects i have been part of
here.The best part is that these tools can be applied in real live
projects.
I am finally graduating this semester and am delighted that thse
methodologies learnt in TQM and CE courses have a real time application
rather than being mere theoretical concepts.
Thank you for all the help Professor.
Wish you a merry christmas and happy new year!!
Thanks !!
Best Regards,
Anup Sudhakaran
Dr Ranky,
Sorry it has taken this long for me to get things wrapped up for the course but all of my struggles are now paying off. I am working at URS Corporation in Paramus NJ in the Paramus Park Mall complex. I am a concrete technician for URS and we oversee all of the concrete work for all of NYC DEP projects.
An example of this is the new water treatment plants that are going to service all of NYC drinking water and all of the miles of piping that go into getting the water there.
The class has been paying off and I find the class to be the best class that I ever took at NJIT. It is extremely rewarding to see in real time all of the management practices that we have learned be put into place.
Thanks you for an eye opening class and I just wish I took it when I was not so stressed out with other things going on around me last semester.
Thanks again for teaching the best class I have ever taken.
Best Regards
Mark A. Bishop
Professor,
Semester is done and I will miss this gorgeous class.
Thanks a lot for your efforts and happy holidays
Happy Learning for REAL
Sincerely
Ahmed Elhenawy
Hello Professor,
My name is Amit Warambhe.Professor i have
submitted all my assignments of TQM-IE 673 course. The course was best
learning experience to get the knowledge of quality aspects and you
shared the course information very well with us through your e-learning
pack.Personally i enjoyed doing the course as i have planned to set-up
a high quality wine industry in INDIA. The quality tools you taught us
and quality management in various industries through your videos in the
class will definately help me to prosper my business.I will definately
need your help in future.Wish you a merry Christmas and have a
prosperous new year.
Thanking You.
Regards.
Amit Warambhe
Prof Ranky
I want to thank you for sharing your incredible knowledge on TQM with
me and the rest of the class. The learning opportunity you provide us
is excellent. Your course materials provided a great education for me.
I admire your way of teaching and most likely I will take the other
course (IE655) you offer.
Thanks for all your help and support.
Regards
Pradip (Peter) Basu
Dr. Ranky,
It has been a pleasure working with you, again! The facts that I have picked up throughout the classes you have offered me has enlightened my interest and knowledge in the field.
Thank you for making all this information and knowledge easily accessible.
Yehya Solima
I have learned a lot form your courses, and would suggest it to my
friends.
sincerely
Nandeep Nadella
Professor,
This course introduced a new way of viewing processes and procedures in the
workplace and how to recognize breakdowns and failures. Most importantly it
taught me how to approach and improve these processes.
I really enjoyed the course and am sorry to see it end. I will definitely
recommend this course and any other course you teach to fellow students.
Good luck and be well,
Laszlo Herczku
Dear Professor Ranky:
My name is Amanda Mogro, and I am submitting my final assignment for the semester.
Also, I like to express my gratitude to you because this was one of the most interesting classes I had this semester. The case studies were very help and I am sure, I will be using some of the TQM techniques in the future.
Once again thank you,
Sincerely,
Amanda
Dear Dr. Paul G. Ranky,
Please see the URL to all my assignments for this course. It was nice
having you with all the great resources in this class.
Regards,
Moses Bernard
Awesome, I really learned a lot of important things applicable in my job.
Thanks,
Fabian Ferreira
Comake Engineer Frozen for Savory Americas
Unilever Foods A2-086A
Thanks for a great semester, I enjoyed learning all of these new
concepts!
Thanks,
Mary Petronis
Dear Professor,
I would like to thank you for your efforts in providing one of the best
distance learning courses at NJIT. Like always, I feel very confident
in submitting my coursework.
Best Regards,
Atif Anwar
Hey Professor, It was great working with you, Thank you for sharing all the knowledge.
Pratik Shah
Thanks for a good semester, the course was definitely one of the most
interesting and informative courses that I have taken.
Regards,
Steve Karl
IE673
It's been a great time with you this semester.
You did not teach us TQM, rather you educated us in becoming the very best
that we can ever be. I now look at stuff in a very new and different way. I
gat a new job that I started 3 weeks ago with P & Associates and I did
the interview within the early parts of your class and it helped me a lot. I
got a 3 step promotion and over $20,000 raise compared to my old job.
Prof., you remember saying that you are teaching us to make our desired and
well deserved salaries/wages of $70,000 +? You are so right. Right within the
class, I am pushed into that catergory and it feels great.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH PROF.
Thanks once again and have a great holidays. Going diving? or skiing?
Best of luck in all you do.
Your student,
James B. Puplampu
Thanks Professor,
A lot of thanks for educating me in TQM(IE673) and CE(IE655). It is very helpful in in my professional development! I was nominated in two categories: “Best Product of the 2006 Year” and “ The Best Team” between all Stryker divisions.
Thanks and regards,
Abram
All in all it was a wonderful experience hope to see you in the Concurrent Engg class this spring semester
Thankyou, Ahsan Ali
Thankyou.
This class was a wonderful experience; you are great, Syed Ali
Dear Professor: Thank you so much. This has really been quite an experience and I am now so glad I did go forward with it; the journey was good… Diane Bove
Thanks for your patience. By the way, I've just purchased an Apple iMac and its great!!!! I will never purchase a PC again. Crystal
Thank you very much it was a very interesting semester. I have learned a lot in this course. Have a happy and safe holiday. I will see you next semester because I am taking IE655. Brahan Rupan
I want to thank you so much for sharing your incredible knowledge of this subject with me and the class. You really made me stretch my capabilities this semester with this class and I have a great sense of accomplishment. So thank you again and I hope you and your family have a great holiday and good luck to you. Thanks again and I hope that the work that I am submitting to you is worth an A, because that would mean a lot come from you. Sincerely, Victor J. McLoughlin
It was an amazing course, I found it is very helpful and very interesting.
Unfortunately I am graduated, otherwise I will definitely be in your next
class. Thanks for your help. I have a suggestion about the course though. I just feel the statistical analysis part might can be extended a little bit, maybe it is because I am from math and my major is Stat.:)
Have a nice weekend and a great holiday. Thanks again. Chunsheng Yang
Thank you again for a very enlightening semester. Roldan Rivera
Thanks for a great class and semester! Regards, Chad Gassert
Thank you for the great learning opportunity. Olukayode Dada
I would like to tank you very much for a very interesting and
important course. I really feel that I learned many things this
semester. Your approach in teaching and conveying your ideas is very
unique. I did not see this being done in any of my other NJIT
classes. Great job and I look forward to taking more classes with
you. Thank you: Kanar Rabah
I enjoyed your class and I decided to signing up for IE 655 class also.
Regards, Krzysztof Rapciewicz
I had a pleasant experience in my career at NJIT. Thanks for all the important and vital things you taught me, while i didn't find them useful in the first class since i had not worked for corporate America I most certainly found them useful now. Respectfully, Francis Garcia
Dr. Ranky, Thanks for your patience, and helpful suggestions throughout the semester.
By enrolling in this class and learning the TQM principles proved to be highly
beneficial; learning to build my 1st website was icing on the cake.
I certainly got my money's worth. In fact, I will even go as far as saying
that this class was a bargain. The wealth of knowledge that I now have at my
fingertips from your e-textbook is invaluable. The excel and visio templates
were extra treats that helped facilitate our learning - thanks for your effort
in putting all that material together!
Warmest Regards, See you in IE 655, Bryant R. Jackson - brj2, Electronics Engineer
Thank you for this very nessecary tool to put in our arsenal of
learning. Roldan Rivera
I just wanted to say that this semester has been very useful and that I
have already started to incorporate the lessons learned, in conjunction
with Lean Six Sigma, at my job to evaluate Processes. Hope that you have a wonderful holidays. David Sabanosh
Last but not least let me take this opportunity to thank you for the knowledge you passed on in the classroom and I look forward to applying this knowledge in the real world. Thanks for the learning experience, George Authur
Being in your class was a learning experience, I now look forward to putting the knowledge gain into work practice. Thank you, John K. Wilson Jr.
Prof Ranky, I just wanted to thank you for inviting Frank Reick to class last Monday.
His discussions were very enjoyable and his frankness, honesty, and
overall genuine qualities make it obvious why he is successful and why
you have made him a friend. Please pass on my thanks to him...
Regards, Charlie Maraldo
Enjoy some pictures of this enjoyable session we had with Frank: Frank-Reick-Pic1, Frank-Reick-Pic2, Frank-Reick-Pic3
' Dear Professor Ranky, This is Eduardo Canales. I had taken IE_673 last semester with you as part of my master degree in EM. I just want to thank you for such a valuable tool you taught us as it is TQM. Right now, I am working on a matrix evaluation and I remember. I had your Ranky Cora excel tool, which I am using.
The fact that it's in a CD and it's on excel make it practical and fast to use. But not only is the Ranky Cora but all other tools that are in the CD.
Again thanks for your teaching and guidance.
Sincerely, Eduardo
Dear Professor Ranky, I would like you know that I truly enjoyed your class yesterday. After graduating from NJIT with a degree in CoE { computer engineering] I was unable to find a job that I liked and would like to make a career in and felt horrible that I went to school for engineering and came out with pretty much nothing. That was when I decided to look for something in the Finance field and fortunately I was able to land a job, and I like dealing with money and control it has on society. Yesterday’s class made me realize why I did engineering and I was good to know that I didn’t lose the love I had for math, science, inventions... just engineering in general.
I am looking forward to class next week!
Regards,
Alka
[History: Prof Ranky has invited Frank Rick, an inventor and engineer, and holder of 40 (!) US Patents to talk to our class on innovation and quality issues. Note, that if at all possible, in every semester I try to invite an excellent guest speaker in the program]
... I must say that this class has been very interesting so far and I really enjoyed the speaker last week. Having him come to class and talk about Real Life Experiences is a very rewarding experience that no Professor at NJIT has offered to me during my college experience. I hope we can have a few more?
Thank You
Keith Mueller.
Dear professor:
Since I don’t have project management experience, I felt difficult to
get into it in the beginning of this course. After I briefly went
through your eBook, I got some sense. When I read the detail of each
chapter, I found that the course is so practicable, useful and very
attractive. The TQM methods are not just useful in project; they could
be used everywhere, even in living activities. Now I like the course
very much, I believe I have been getting the essence of the course; it
must help me in my career. Thank you very much. I am very appreciated.
Thanks again.
Yours truly,
Haiming Sun.
Prof. Ranky,
I've just finished viewing both of the DVD's you provided for the
IE673 class (sorry it took me so long to watch them both) and must
comment about how close they both struck to my own professional
experiences. I currently work as an engineering manager for a lighting
company that does about half of it's North American business in
automotive supplying such items as dome lights, turn signals,
instrument panel lighting, etc to various foreign and domestic
carmakers. About two weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit the BMW
plant in Spartanburg, SC (BMW owns Mini, right?) because of some
components we were supplying to a Tier 1 in the area. What a
tremendous operation! As far as automotive in general, I can say one
thing about...it's tough!
In my former company, I was a Product Development manager for a
precision stamping company. Once used a CMM not unlike the one in the
Mini video (a bit smaller though). That company manufactured a number
of metal shielding components for computers, cell phones and the like.
Interestingly enough, we were working with two big RFID companies,
namely Alien and Matrics (now Symbol) to develop a way to stamp the
RFID antennae instead of chemically etch or conductive print them.
Anyway, wanted to thank you for the opportunity to reminisce about
some of my working experiences.
Wayne
Prof,
Thank you very much. I really enjoyed your class and feel disappointed that it is all almost over...
I have a better idea about TQM and I find myself emphasizing the same in my other management classes , at work, and even with my other outside contacts. It definitely made me think twice before I even react myself to the customers and my fellow workers. I highly appreciate the way you have compiled the study materials.
I am sure I am not the only one who is benefiting from this course. Probably many others. I have even recommended this course to my other class mates.
Thanks for all your help and support.
With Best Regards,
Indira Girija
Hi Prof Ranky
I was wondering since it will be the last class next week... Can we see the other FORD ROUGE video that you shot.
and possible other videos that you have shot ( e learning) similar to that one you showed us last week,
I would enjoy it very much if we could....
Thanks.
Professor Ranky:
I would like to express that I admire your way of teaching. I have to admit that I learn a lot of interesting topics and subjects during the Summer of 2005 through "Cuncureent Engineering" and this Fall through "Total Quality Management", not to mention that I learned how to create the website and post my assignments on it which I had no clue about it before.
The good thing that I can apply use all of what I learned in my work (in small scale) and even in my day life.
So. thank you very much.
Baher Girgis
Hi Prof. Ranky
Thank You for a really exciting semester. I must say one thing... When I first was going into a masters program I was headed towards Civil Engineering. I am glad I chose Engineering Management. Your class has really opened up doors and ideas for me that I never knew existed.....
I do appreciate and have enjoyed your approach to getting us to learn this material. It has been very enjoyable.
So I thank you
K. Mueller
I have successfully completed my final semester, with this I complete my
Master's in Engineering Mgmt. and all set for the Graduate walk slated for
May'06.
I will be joining full time with GE as a Project Application Engineer based at
Lombard(IL) by 3rd week of Jan'06. My education and work experience will help
me take up this challenging & exciting position.
It has been a great learning experience for me to be associated with you, It
would not have been possible for me to contribute without your help and
support. I value your contribution in my development as person and
professional. Thank You All.
With Best Wishes & Regards,
Rajesh
Professor Ranky,
I am excited to be taking your class again. TQM (Spring 05 was
excellent).
David Adwedaa
Good Evening Professor,
Last semester's class was incredible since it is helping me in different areas of my current job. My Director wants to digitize all the documents in our department. I am trying to convince them to put them on a website that is accessible only to the people that should have access.
I thought of that idea after taking your class! I have thought about many ideas that can be implemented thanks to the new concepts that I learned last semester. It was a very hard class!, but well worth it.
Alexis Rodriguez
Thank you for the course. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot. The
project was very interessting and challenging too.
Thanks & Regards,
Ashley
Dear Mr. Ranky.
Thank you for your advice and for this past semester. I hope you liked my
work. The tools you taught us will be really helpful. Hope to keep in touch
and it would be my pleasure if we even do scuba diving together. Thanks
again.
By the way I just received an invitation from GAP headquarters to San
Francisco for a final interview...
Cengiz Dincer
...Interesting class last night. Sorry for butting in maybe a little too
much but I was trying to be helpful - As I am sure Diane was also. I
also feel you need not apologize for your teaching style. Your
experiences are relevant and are appropriate for inclusion in the
discussion.
Charlie Maraldo
Hope all is well with you, I just wanted to wish you Happy Holidays! I am in California now and will be going tomorrow for a 2-week vacation. I am really enjoying my job at Boeing and I appreciate all the advice you've given us throughout the TQM course. Hope you have a wonderful time!
Warmest Wishes,
Linda
My response to these emails...
I have to admit, that student comments like the ones above make me not just incredibly happy, but also work harder every semester to give you the latest and the best, and to continuously update and improve this course and the learning resources. I know it is popular because we all learn useful methods and tools, as well as see the REAL WORLD via virtual factory tours on videos and the web, and then apply the analytical methods; I am delighted, that you like my 3D eBooks and digital videos too!
Note, that this is a combined Welcome Letter and Course Outline for the distance learning class. Please read it carefully. You will find all essential course information here.
Please note, that this document will be updated during the semester. If anything is unclear please contact me.
Also note, that any copy-paste work in any assignments or any work in this course carries zero grade points... I wuld like to encourage you to innovate, and create your own work. I know even large companies copy from each other (and then get caught, and sometimes pay large fines...) nevertheless we must be different; we have to innovate and work hard to prosper.
Some really useful advice about the style of professional communication...
Often I get some truly friendly emails from my students... many of these include SMS-style text messages, 'buddy language', such as 'Hi Paul, how r you doin...', etc.
Whilst I am flattered by your friendly communication style, there is something I must bring to your attention. At NJIT it is not just my job to teach you analytical skills, but also professional courtesy and conduct so that you become successful in the US and in international industry.
For communication (emails) in my courses at NJIT you must observe the following:
I hereby kindly inform you that these NJIT guidelines must be met in all electronic communication.
There is another important issue here, this is when students change their names during the semester... yes, it happens, and when you'll be an engineering manager you'll face similar issues; and you'll 'love it'... In our NJIT world what happens is that the names in emails, in myofficial NJIT roster, or official grading templates on the secure server, and even in earlier emails from the same student don't match... this is a HUGE problem for me, so PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS! Always stick to the SAME name in every email, that you have given to NJIT (because this is the way I see you in my list).
Every semester I have one or two students, who despite all above, do not use their NJIT known nameand even change their emails a lot. Then if I miss them, or question this, this is their usual respons: 'Oh yes professor, I sometimes use my name this way, and some other times that way...'.
Well, again: PLEASE USE YOUR NJIT KNOWN NAME ONE WAY, THE SAME WAY; DO NOT CHANGE YOUR name, or NJIT email during this course because it causes confusion and delay. Thanks! (When you'll be an engineering manager and your 120+ team members will do this to you you'll understand me better...).
Also, all NJIT rosters, grade sheets, etc. like everywhere elsein the world are sorted by family name first. So again, please use the SAME naming conventions, that YOU have given to NJIT... we are not asking you to change anything, just follow what YOU have given to NJIT earlier... and stick to that... hope this is clear...
Every semester I have 3-4 students who confuse all of us with different name combinations, changed names, nick names, etc. Kindly note, that we will ALL SUFFER because of this; we'll have delayes and other problems...you have been warned, therefore pls. don't be upset if you'll get an incomplete grade and you'll garduate a semester later because of the above... so PLEASE NOTE AGAIN, stick to the rules as above. THANKS!
Regards,
Prof. Ranky
P.S.
Had I phrased my emails in a friendly SMS-style, or all in capital letters to my boss during my first job I would have been fired on the spot...
Contact Information...
Mailing Address: Paul G. Ranky, PhD
Full Tenured Professor
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
NJIT, University Heights, NJ 07102 -1982
If the NJIT email system works you can email me at NJIT: ranky@njit.edu (Please note, that for reliability reasons I have added another email address: paul.ranky.njit.edu@mac.com. This is very important because sometimes NJIT's email does not work for weeks and then you cannot reach me and I cannot reach you... it happened with the Google email transition in December 2012 at NJIT... Please use this alternative email (running on an ultra reliable Apple server) and send again your email if you don't get an answer from me within 5 to 7 working days. I can read the paul.ranky.njit.edu@mac.com account over the Internet anywhere where I have Internet access, therefore even if I am away at a conference on NJIT business, or research we can be in touch.)
In case of an emergency, including weekends and holidays, please email me. I look at my emails on my cellphone frequently, unless I am away where my cellphone does not work.
Note, that my office is in NJIT ME Building room 310 at NJIT.
My office hours for the summer semester will be occasionally available by appointment only. Pls. keep me informed of your progress by email, and I'll be happy to see you as soon as I can if you need help.
Find out more about the Professor’s past and current research work and background at (don't miss some of my best diving and skiing pictures as well as the 360 degree, gyro enabled interactive panoramas that I have created with my brother...): http://www.cimwareukandusa.com/aboutpgr.htm
Some examples with videos of our related new R&D work we have completed for the LSC (The Liberty Science Center in New Jersey). These are the web sites: http://njit-lsc.njit.edu/pauldesign.html and http://njit-lsc.njit.edu/paulrobot.html
Enjoy!
Academic Calendar
Please look up the NJIT website.
What are Hybrid Courses?
Since some of our classes will be hybrid, you should understand what a hybrid, or blended class is...
hy·brid - noun - something of mixed origin or composition; something, such as a computer or automobile plant, having two kinds of components that produce the same or similar results.
Hybrid courses (also known as blended, or mixed mode courses) are courses in which a significant portion of the learning activities have been moved online and time traditionally spent in the classroom is reduced but not eliminated.
The goal of hybrid courses is to pair the best features of face-to-face teaching with the best options of online learning to promote active and independent learning and reduce class seat time.
Using instructional technologies, the hybrid model forces the redesign of some lecture or lab content into new online learning activities, such as case studies, tutorials, self-testing exercises, simulations, and online group collaborations.
This site (ref.: http://media.njit.edu/hybrid/) was created in support of NJIT's Pilot Program in Hybrid Learning and the Weekend University.
"Within five years, you'll see a very significant number of classes that are available in a hybrid fashion," says John R. Bourne, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering who is editor of the Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks. "I would guess that somewhere in the 80- to 90-percent range of classes could sometime become hybrid."
And he says he expects to see more students choose to take online courses even if they live on campus.
"Hybrid Teaching Seeks to End the Divide Between Traditional and Online Instruction" by Jeffrey R. Young, March 22, 2002, Chronicle of Higher Education
Ref.: http://media.njit.edu/hybrid/
As an NJIT undergraduate, graduate, live and/ or Distance learning, or in other words eLearning Student, or hybrid course student you are entitled to benefit of significant FREE computing resources, meaning hardware, lots of free software, as well as on-line email, web-site storage space, and related Internet and NJIT intranet server services. The steps below intend to help you on how to set up a web page for documenting your assignments for this course. Please read and follow each step. Obviously if you already have a web page, either through work, or business, or otherwise, please feel free to use that, or the one you prefer. (All we want is for you to learn the method, and then put all your assignments on the web, learn how to manage your knowledge over the web, and then email your URL with your assignments to the instructor for grading). Note, that you can use any suitable web authoring software. NJIT has a few too.
These are the steps to follow (as provided by NJIT's IT and Computing Services):
Hopefully all works... I'd like to see your beautiful webpages! Simple and working fine.
One of my students offered this explanation on how to upload webpages to the NJIT server: (might have changed...I do not use this system, sorry... I use only professional servers...) Click to see it in .html
Also, another student of mine suggests to use Netscape for free webpage design. This is the link: Netscape 7.2 is free for download for both PC and Mac at the following URL:
http://browser.netscape.com/ns8/download/archive72x.jsp
Last, but not least: ALWAYS test your uploaded assignment using your own, as well as somebody else's computer, to make sure that everything works fine. (Also, ask one of your classmates, or friends to check it for you, by sending him/her an email with a full URL in it, like this: http://www.mycoursewebpage.edu. Always include the full URL into the email, else it won't link directly).
Also note, that besides the class discussions (live class), the eLearning pack eBooks have several examples on the architecture of simple and complex web-pages. All of these are in open source, please study them! (Note, that open-source does not mean that you can upload an entire eBook of mine, or video onto a server on the web. This would be a major copyright violation!!!! Try to stay out of legal trouble, USA lawyers are the best... PLEASE!)
As always,
Happy Learning for REAL,
Professor Paul G. Ranky, PhD
For ALL assignments: Please note, that if you are late with the submission of an assignment, then you can only submit it together with the last, i.e. the 5th Assignment. In other words if you are late with an assignment, you are missing a rework opportunity based on my comments. You can resubmit the improved version of each assignment once, assuming you have submitted each of them on time, i.e. on due date (as above).
Welcome to IE673, one of the most useful TQM courses you’ll ever take! Please read these notes. If anything is unclear please call me or email me. I am here to help you! Prerequisite: instructor’s approval.
Narrative Description of the Course: Total quality management is an approach to business involvement led by the theme of quality. It involves the continual satisfaction of customer requirements at the lowest cost by harnessing the efforts of everybody in the company. Quality assurance means sustaining a system which prevents defects. This includes quality control and quality engineering. Quality control means establishing and maintaining specified quality standards of products / processes / or a service; quality engineering is the establishment and execution of tests to measure product quality and adherence to acceptance criteria.
This course explains the importance of sustainable, lean six-sigma, reducing variation for the purpose of implementing total quality in every process (at every level) of the enterprise. Furthermore, IE673 represents a sustainable, lean, modular product, process, service design, implementation and management approach to the introduction of various TQM methods, tools, technologies and their engineering project management issues within a variety of small, medium and large enterprises.
So, is this marketable knowledge for graduates? And what are the job opportunities in lean six-sigma quality and in project management? (These are two important areas, that rely on fundamental subjects discussed in this course.) The answer is: ALL GOOD!
As examples, USA executive on-line education programs claim (May, 2010), that six-sigma quality knowledge with good communication skills, leadership skills, analytical and risk analysis skills, as well as good project management skills claim a potential of a $140,000.00 (USD) annual salary!
As often defined "quality is the overall level of product /process / service excellence". It is also quite obvious that without similarly "excellent people, equipment and software" , or in other words, resources, one cannot provide the desired level of quality at the predefined cost. According to Jaguar Cars, "Quality is making money out of satisfying customers. Quality comes first". John F. Akers, former CEO of IBM, defines quality as follows: "Quality is everyone's job. Quality is essential merely to stay in the race". Others claim that: "Quality means putting the customers first every time".
Dr. Akimasa Kurimoto, Yamazaki Machinery (Japan) states that: "The success or failure of the new business strategies is, in general, attributed to the capability of the company to create its culture in ways that would make the new business strategy work. Quality is a fundamental management philosophy, causing cultural change of mind and attitude. Total quality management is the prime corporate business strategy to facilitate the best blend of management and working practice".
Lucas Engineering & Systems (UK and USA), defines Total Quality as follows: "The term Total Quality of Performance relates not just to the technical quality of products but rather to the quality of performance of every function in an organization. This is in recognition of the fact that the quality and cost of a product depend upon its design, the lead times and the reliability of the processes operated by many contributory departments (both manufacturing and administrative), the choice of materials and the effectiveness of supporting structures".
Mike Robson, international (US-based) quality expert, claims that: "We all want quality and excellence. Excellence is a journey, not a destination. There is no magic to quality". The conclusion is that every manufacturing (and other) enterprise needs a Total Quality system which is:
The main problems when applying traditional quality management philosophy include the following:
On the contrary, in this class we follow a modern, progressive, and simultaneously preventive thinking; and even more, a sustainable green approach: this is because Total Quality Management involves every person, aspect and machine (i.e. product, process, control and resource) of the organization, it requires a total commitment. It is not a quick "test and fix" approach. It is a preventive system designed into every aspect of the World Class Design, Manufacturing and Service enterprise, including product design, manufacture, management, administration and others. In accounting terms modern TQM is costing less than conventional quality systems do, because they can and do prevent failures! (No more recalls? Is this really possible? ... and how much less expensive is that?)
In order to learn the above outlined principles, methods, tools and technologies, the course is supported by a comprehensive eLearning package (for both live, hybrid and distance learning students these packs are the same in structure and content). An eLearning pack typically contains a comprehensive 600+ page long browser readable, digital eTextbook, we call it the digital and interactive multimedia 3D eBook, some printed material, and other web-browser readable, open source 3D interactive multimedia, digital videos, magazines, DVDs, CDs, USB sticks, and others. (These represent the collaborative companies; pls. see Assignment 0 for more on this topics.)
The eLearning Packs contain real-world research and industrial case studies, as well as open source, professional active code and spreadsheets, that the students can customize when developing their assignments with their own data. (PLease note, that open source does NOT mean, that you can break the USA / international copyright law and put an entire 3D eBook DVD, or a video on the web !... even if it is going to be on your own server!!!!!) You may of course customize the speardsheets and submit them as your assignments on your webpages with proper credits given. That is great, because you can design and solve your own problems in every assignment! (Freedom?)
The fundamental goal of TQM and TQC (Total Quality Management and Control) is to program, measure and keep process variability under control. During our studies in this course we discuss several methods, tools and technologies to achieve this goal. One of these methods is identified as six-sigma. In order to give an introductory-level example of our approach, the figure below illustrates the mathematical versus the industrial interpretation of six-sigma.
(When reviewing this figure don't forget to play our short sample video, hot-linked to this figure. This is only a short, small size video, because it is run from the server over the Internet. In the eLearning Pack you'll find several resources with pro-quality, full length video and multimedia content, including 3D videos and animations!)
To summarize, the methods taught in this course are relevant not just to TQM as applied to design, manufacture, test of products, but to a large variety of services too, because they reduce development costs, improve working capital management, and increase customer satisfaction by offering powerful methods and even software tools.
Fundamentally this means waste reduction, and optimization, therefore lean. If coupled with sustainable green methods, then we can be truly pleased with the results because th eimprovements will last for a long time.
Advanced, sustainable green, high quality design and manufacturing is used in all areas of manufacturing, including product and process design, control, fabrication, test, assembly, disassembly, and remanufacturing / recycling. (Note, that manufacturing here also means pharmaceutical packaging, electronic assembly, and other manufacturing, fabrication, production processes.)
In terms of green design and manufacturing sustainability we consider an eco-friendly state, or process that can be maintained over time, for a very long time.
Also, the ability of an ecosystem to maintain ecological advanced manufacturing processes and functions, biological diversity, and productivity over time. Furthermore, it encompasses the concept of meeting present manufacturing needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
In other words, the characteristic of green, sustainable advanced manufacturing is being able to coexist with another system indefinitely, without either system being damaged by toxic waste or any other process. Sustainable green manufacturing also emphasizes that the creation of wealth within the community considers the wellbeing of both the human as well as natural environments, and is focused on the more complex processes of development rather than on simple growth or accumulation only.
Upon completing this program of study the candidates will be able to understand and apply TQM Engineering, and related management methods and tools with a strong sustainable six-sigma and green engineering focus.
Why is the course needed?
There are many methods and solutions to innovate and develop new products and processes, to cut down waste, to green, and to improve an organization, a design office, a manufacturing enterprise, a product, or a process. One major discipline is Lean Six-sigma Total Quality Management.
There is no doubt that modern Total Quality Management sounds impressive, but it is also expensive, because it aims at perfection in every aspect of the organization. On the contrary, many large and small companies claim that lean six-sigma total quality is a business strategy. It is "a matter of life or death"... and if you consider the importance of the environment, then even more so... According to Harold Geneen, of ITT, USA, "Quality is not only free, it's our most profitable product line".
But how can this be true ? As a simple and quick justification process, think for a moment of the fact that following the traditional quality management philosophy, the fewer the faults, the higher the cost, whereas applying our progressive total quality approach, the fewer the faults, the lower the cost (not to mention the possibility of the cost of a major recall!)
In other words, modern Total Quality Management means:
It is essential to understand that none of the progressive TQM methods we teach in this class work in practice unless they are applied to all levels of the enterprise, including all processes, the internal, as well as external supply chains. A modern company today is part of a global supply chain. As many examples have shown if just one segment of this supply chain breaks down because of poor quality, the entire system collapses (e.g. Chinese led paint, Chinese milk poisioning, Toyota recalls).
TQM methods and the quality culture has to be introduced gradually and should be managed by people who understand and support the principles, know how to communicate on an international basis, how to deal with co-workers, and know the methods / tools too. It is a complex process, and a major implementation challenge!
TQM has its best chance if implemented in a modern, digital factory, in which every major process is monitored, based on analytical, quantitative and computational methods... (you can read more on this interesting topic...)
The table below kindly offered by Peter Rayson, TIC, University of Birmingham, UK, illustrates the way enterprises must develop into international market facing systems, employing knowledgeable and empowered professionals, who are capable of creating and managing new knowledge for the enterprise; exactly the kind of workforce this course is developing.
To summarize, modern TQM addresses the whole enterprise, including products, processes, controls and resources, or in another domain humans and machines, the business systems, product design, process planning, manufacturing planning, the shop floor, packaging, maintenance, and service, including multiple life-cycles, via the internal, as well as the external supply chains.. yes all of it!
For Whom is the Course Intended?
I have designed this course for Graduate / Master of Science programs in IE (Industrial Engineering), in EM (Engineering Management), in Mechanical Engineering, MnE (Manufacturing Systems Engineering), Pharmaceutical Management, Project Management, as well as an elective course for Graduate Mechanical Engineering, Graduate Computing Science and Graduate Environmental Engineering students. Note, that we follow a modular, object - oriented (OO) approach that makes the topic very adaptable to a variety of different environments. This approach has been successfully tested and run for several years at NJIT as well as on a consulting basis at large companies, such as IBM, Ford Motor Company, Jaguar Cars, GM/EDS, Boeing, Raytheon, and others.
Furthermore, the course is aimed at graduate research students, professional engineers and managers working in industry, wishing to learn about new, TQM methods, tools and technologies and management methods, for the purpose of improving products, processes and services.
Live, Hybrid and Distance Learning Students purchase their educationally priced eLearning Packs from the NJIT Bookstore (pls. contact Frank, at the NJIT Bookstore over the web). PLEASE NOTE, that all of the eLearning Pack materials are copyrighted and therefore are for individual student use only. (As an example, it is illegal for you to purchase the educationally priced package from the NJIT bookstore as an NJIT student, and then send it to your father's business in India for professional / commercial consulting purposes to improve his factory... as it happened in the past...)
On the other hand, you can put selected objects (e.g. images, or video clips, or others up-to-10% of the total content) with proper references to the original material (in the usual format: 'Courtesy of xyz, published by ABC...) into your assignments and post them onto your website, but it is ILLEGAL for you to put an entire eBook,or en entire video (as an example) onto your webpage, or server. I mention this here because some students break the USA copyright law and therefore can get into major legal trouble with publishers; something I do not want you to experience, because it is expensive and nasty... the USA legal system is one of the best in the world...
Every eLearning Pack architecture is the same, but in terms of actual content is different, because it is customized and updated every semester. This is what you'll find in an eLearning Pack for this course, this semester:
PLEASE note, that all above is for your personal educational non-profit use only, not to be put on the Internet or any servers, or make copies, else you might get into serious trouble with the USA copyright law... THANKS!
The eLearning Packs will give us a great opportunity to work on projects in collaboration with the Four Selected Companies (also in your eLearning Pack). PLEASE NOTE, that each eLearning pack is different, nevertheless the methods we use are the same. Each student should therefore use one customized eLearning Pack.
Also note, that you will need a multimedia PC (approx. 900 MHz, with a DVD drive and 800x600 resolution screen min., 1024x768 or better screen preferred), a link to the Internet and email, as well as a not older than yr. 1998 version of MS-Excel in your machine. PLEASE NOTE, that as a student at NJIT, you are entitled to huge educational software and hardware discounts, FREE software licenses, therefore make sure that you take advantage of the huge educational discounts offered. (See the NJIT's bookstore, as well as contact NJIT's computing help desks at http://njit.edu for further details).
Reading for a degree... A few words about 'reading for a degree'... for hundreds of years, academics and other professionals all over the world emphasized the importance of reading for a degree. Here is a short list of excellent resources that will help you to deepen your understanding in the subject area of this course. Please read more on the subject if you can:
Schedule: A semester at NJIT is typically 15 weeks long. (Note, that Summer semesters are streched longer; pls. see the NJIT web site for accurate dates in each semester.) You have to complete and submit 6 assignments on time (see them below in detail). There is no final examination, the course is assessed based on the 6 assignments (0 to 5 and an open book Midterm; see below in detail). Since each eLearning Pack is different in content, each of you work with me on different assignments, nevertheless everybody will bel using the same methods base (explained in detail in the eTextbook, a.k.a the eBook).
All assignments should be in electronic format (i.e. email me a full URL within an email). If there is something not clear, please email, or make an appointment and see me. I am keen to help, but please do not ask me to act as a computer and read the syllabus for you... THANKS! Note, that in the summer session it is important to leave enough time to arrange a face-to-face meeting if necessary. Obviously I answer emails 7 days a week, including vacation days, unless I am away and have limited or no access to the Internet.
Class 1/ NJIT Week 1: (Note that class numbers correspond to the semester week numbers at NJIT and this is just a relative scale for planning purposes. The due dates are calendar day accurate and should be followed. In the summer session you can plan for a double length period, therefore each week becomes two weeks... this gives you more time to study...) Topics covered; pls. read the eBook and watch the videos in the eLearning Pack. Introduction and overview of the entire course as well as the subject: What is TQM? Why do we need TQM, and what are the main drivers? TQM in a traditional and in a modern design and manufacturing, and service - oriented enterprise. An overview of the course, the eLearning Pack, and student requirements analysis (i.e. what students would like to learn whilst studying in this course). Part 1: TQM in a traditional and in a modern design and manufacturing, and service -oriented enterprise. An overview of US and international TQM standards. TQM process and enterprise models. Engineering management focus on how to find and reduce quality-related waste, and how to create TQM models, that are analytical, quantitative and computational, as well as have a chance of getting implemented in an enterprise. An overview of modern TQM knowledge documentation and knowledge management methods and issues; An overview of the assignments in this course, and a discussion on what the students have to accomplish to pass this course with a high grade. What is green and what is sustainable lean and green?
Student Activities (this is what you should do to get an 'A' in this class, and most importantly learn the subject):
Class 2 / NJIT Week 2 Part 2: TQM in a traditional and in a modern design and manufacturing, and service - oriented enterprise. International TQM standards. An overview of TQM methods, graphical, statistical and simulation tools and some technologies supporting design, manufacturing and service quality. Object - oriented (OO) TQM process and enterprise models are introduced. Engineering management focus on how to find and reduce quality-related waste; and how to create TQM models, that are analytical, quantitative and computational, as well as have a chance of getting implemented in an enterprise. Read Chapters 1 and 2 in the eBook.
Students present their TQM Project Plans:
Assignment 0: Submit by email as an attached Word file (one file please), or PDF, or even better: on the web: Both live and DL students email their assignments to the instructor describing the way their own virtual company (i.e. the 5th company) will collaborate with the 4 companies (to be found in your customized eLearning Pack, represented by either CDs, DVDs, printed material, or USB sticks, brochures, journals, or others), and develop TOGETHER a new quality product, process, or service, that is Sustainable and Green. You can find useful info on what this means here:
http://www.cimwareukandusa.com/All-Green/Ranky-GreenEngineering.html
Note: Your product / process, or service you plan to develop MUST be TQM-oriented and you have to spell out the TQM aspects, as well as the Sustainable and Green aspects explicitly, item-by-item, clearly! (This is also a good time to start to set up your own webpage... you can use any server / software you like; NJIT offers you FREE webhosting. NJIT's solution will also enable you later to add .xls files, and active code (much better than some free commercial solutions...). As an alternative, you might want to get a pro. service and pay for it, or try something FREE from the web, like www.tripod.com (my students tell me it is OK, I am not sure, I have NOT tested it myself).
Include your
To help you even more, these are the detailed steps you should take to complete Assignment 0. PLEASE address EACH point, else you'll loose grade points:
New feature of this course: grade your own assignment and let me know why you have given yourself the particular grade. The reason why I am asking you to do this is because unfortunately some of you miss a lot in every assignment... by having to grade yourself, hopefully you'll recognize this issues, follow the syllabus and submit a proper assignment... In Assignment 0 it is a go/no go!
Typical Mistakes: Many bits are missing from the above list; incomplete submission. Please note, that I won't be able to act as your computer and read word-by-word what is required of the above list... sorry, this is a grad. course... we are over that age... (Note, that this statement applies to ALL assignments and I won't repeat it again...) In TQM you must pay attention to detail... important!
Classes 3, and 4 / NJIT Week 3 and / NJIT Week 4 US and international TQM standards (goals, architecture, pitfalls, practical implementation issues and rules). Object oriented TQM information system models and process modeling following the ISO 9001:2008 international standard, (CIMpgr, object oriented TQM process modeling is explained and discussed through exercises and examples). There are some good articles on CIMpgr over the web at http://www.cimwareukandusa.com in the ADAM with IT magazine.
Read the case study oriented (CIMpgr) articles and see the OO process model examples. (There is a good overview in the 3D eBook, plus there are several templates you can use). You’ll grasp it quickly. You can draw these diagrams with any simple 2D drawing tool, on PCs maybe best with VISIO, or CORAL Draw, or PowerPoint, or ADOBE Illustrator, and OmniGraffle on the Mac, or others. Please note, that the templates in the eBook are in the latest Visio version. Visio is available FREE from the MS website for a limited time, or FREE from NJIT for longer. Read Chapters 3, 4 and 5 in the TQM eBook.
PLEASE do NOT send me Visio source files. Treat me as a global collaborator. I have the web and Excel... and Office... Email me a webpage URL with your assignment in that web page, as described above. The process models (i.e. the diagrams) should be hyperlinked to the web page. During the last few semesters I have seen a new disturbing trend in that some students did not draw any new process steps using my templates; they have simply kept my templates EXACTLY as they are in the eBook, WITHOUT ANY additional info. or innovation... Kindly note, that you must add your own work to the templates. Copy-paste carries zero grade points!. Sorry, I am really strickt on this because I would like to make sure, that you learn something really useful in this class.
Submit by Assignment No. 1: A TQM Process / System Modeling Method (as Part of the Internal and External Supply Chain) (After having submitted this to me I’ll make comments on it that you suppose to consider and then rework your assignment).
Please note, that the best assignments show evidence that the student has worked through the learning material provided in the eLearningPack. Therefore feel free to incorporate digital images, text and even video clips or 3D VR objects provided into your assignment; nevertheless never forget to credit the source of such objects in the bibliography, as well as always add your own too. Make it truly your own assignment. (Obviously it is illegal for you to put the entire eBook or video on the web, because that would violate international copyright laws.)
Also note, that as of 2008 this assignment became very important for pharmaceutical engineers and management too. Process modeling was always crucially important in hi-tech industries producing digital computers, cameras, aerospace parts, automobiles, etc. The pharma. industry has recently realized, that they should catch up and deploy Process Analytical Technologies (PAT). To do this you need advanced process modeling. (This is because of the huge quality improvement, as well as saving opportunities... In my view they are still many years behind but we want them to catch up and learn new ideas and methods!)
Process analytical technology (PAT) is the wave of the future for the pharmaceutical industry.
As defined by the FDA, PAT is “A system for designing, analyzing, and controlling manufacturing through timely measurements (i.e., during processing) of critical quality and performance attributes of raw and in-process materials and processes with the goal of ensuring final product quality.” As a scientific, risk-based framework, PAT is intended to support innovation and efficiency in pharmaceutical development, manufacturing, and quality assurance. The framework is founded on process understanding to facilitate innovation and risk-based regulatory decisions by industry and the Agency.'
The good news, is that in this course we discuss all of these methods, supported by powerful tools, including process modeling with CIMpgr, innovation by means of customer requirements analysis (CORA), risk-based design (PFRA), and process quality improvements by means of statistical methods. We even focus on quality auditing (Assignment 5), a key component here.
In terms of assignment content please read Chapters 3, 4 and 5 of the 3D eBook; as for the documentation method, please follow the Appendix of the TQM 3DeBook in your Learning Pack. Note, that my CIMpgr process modeling method is now part of the International Standard! It is a big plus of the new ISO 9001:2008 standard. This is something we have been doing for over 20 years now... the standard has finally caught up with me / us, nevertheless our OO (object oriented) process modeling method is still better, than some parts of the latest ISO standard...
Please follow this structure for your assignment:
New feature of this course: grade your own assignment and let me know why you have given yourself the particular grade. The reason why I am asking you to do this is because unfortunately some of you miss a lot in every assignment... by having to grade yourself, hopefully you'll recognize this issues, follow the syllabus and submit a proper assignment...
Typical Mistakes: Why am I loosing grade points in this assignment?
Classes 5 and 6 / NJIT Week 5 and 6
QFD (Quality Function Deployment); TQM Requirements Analysis is discussed with 3D Virtual Reality examples as an integrated Total Quality Management methodology. Read Chapters 6, 7 and 8 in the eBook: Intro to TQM eBook. Also watch the Videos again in your eLearning Pack.
Student Activities:
QFD (Quality Function Deployment) / Requirements analysis is discussed with 3D Virtual Reality examples as part of the lean six-sigma customer focused requirements analysis and also as a Concurrent Engineering methodology. Also, start to prepare for next week: Process Improvement and Process Control Analysis, and a Quantitative, Computational Solution: Control Charts for Variables and Attributes. Mathematical modeling with examples. Design of experiments and the extended Ranky/Taguchi method. (You can find this TQM methodology including examples in the TQM 3DeBook DVD-ROM in your eLearning Pack).
Submit by (see above) Assignment No. 2: QFD (Quality Function Deployment; Component Oriented TQM Process Related Customer Requirements Analysis).
Read the main 3DeBook of the course, in particular Chapters 6, 7 and 8.
When developing the QFD1 matrix for a TQM product / process, or service try to put down all
Please note, that the best assignments show evidence that the student has worked through the learning material provided in the eLearning Pack, therefore feel free to incorporate digital images, text and even video clips or 3D VR objects provided in the eBook into your assignment; nevertheless never forget to credit the source of such objects in the bibliography.
Typical Mistakes: Why am I loosing grade points in this assignment?
The integration of quality into every process; An overview of TQM methods, graphical and statistical tools. Read Chapters 10, 11 and 12 in the Intro to TQM eBook.
Submit by Assignment (No.3): Process Improvement and Process Control Analysis, and a Quantitative, Computational Solution: Control Charts for Variables and Attributes
Select an area in your company, the 5th company, that needs to be improved by employing Process Control methods. Show how a quantitative, computational solution can help. Treat our library (in the DVD 3DeBook) as a sustainability statistical toolset.
Use the Control Charts for Variables and Attributes in our new 'Ranky-Stat_Library' linked to the eBook. Simulate and make up the missing input data, if necessary.
As industrial examples, watch the Industrial videos again, as well as study your collaborating 4 companies. Try to identify areas, that are measurable and statistically controllable. Make up missing data; we are keen on learning the methods with realistic data sets!
Please note, that all above are still Beta versions... If you find a bug, you'll get extra 10% to your full semester TQM grade! Also, we welcome any suggestions. As an alternative, you can use any pro-tool: such as MINITAB, or others. The benefit of our simple toolset is that you get the source code and see a step-by-step mathematical explanation to what our thinking process is... Enjoy!
Typical Mistakes: Why am I loosing grade points in this assignment?
The Lean Six Sigma Methodology for TQM in Design, Manufacturing, Assembly and Service. An overview of Design For Quality, Assembly, Disassembly, the role of Quality Standards and Quality Circles, and other TQM methods, with 3D Virtual Reality examples and classroom exercises. Read Chapters up to 13 in the Intro to TQM eBook.
JIT and Kanban (Lean) production control methods for design, manufacturing, assembly and service quality Improvement. TQM tools. Networked TQM and TQC in collaborating digital enterprises, and the role of modeling and simulation; Quality leadership, strategic management, and customer satisfaction issues; Globalization, and quality culture issues; Teamwork and how to build great quality teams;
Classes 11 and 12 / NJIT Week 11 and Week 12
The Importance of quality in management, in service industries. Quality communication skills, education, training and TQM knowledge documentation and knowledge management methods and tools; Quality Ethics, TQM culture, benchmarking and globalization; Continuous quality improvement methods and examples.
Submit by Assignment No. 4: The focus of this assignment is: Process Failure Risk Analysis, as Part of our lean six-sigma toolset; In this assignment use our PFRA/DFRA (Process Failure Risk / Disassembly Failure Risk Analysis) Method and Tool; meaning the same Read Chapter 9 in the Intro to TQM eBook.
To see an Industrial example, watch the Videos in your eLearning Pack.
Typical Mistakes: Why am I loosing grade points in this assignment?
Class (It's almost over... just a few days left...) MIDTERM: This is a take home exam: Based on your OWN experiences (NOT the web or other sources, but your OWN!) write 12 human error detection and prevention cases. This means a total of 12 cases, and for each human error case you should discuss the detection as well as the prevention aspects.
If you can pls. illustrate each case with a photo, or a video clip. (Most of you have smart phones, this is really easy now...) You can use ANY resources for both, but it should have YOUR ideas, YOUR facts, YOUR experiences versus copy paste from the web! ... or from each other... that has no value..Each human error detection & prevention case should be documented in about 250 words total.
Pls. focus on the quality process aspect of any human error, such as process, procedure relate errors, quality issues, service quality issues, lack of understanding, education related errors, lack of quality procedure related to human errors, poor use of technology errors, and similar. I am keen to see the method; the analytical approach. The examples must be yours, but the methods can be explained as existing methods as applied to human error detection and prevention.
Class 14 / NJIT Week 14: Continuous TQ improvement methods. TQM graphical methods. TQM audit. Course summary and overview: How the learned methods and tools fit together, and how we can integrate them for specific applications. TQM Audit and How to Improve a Selected, Industrial System: TQM in a Global, Distributed, Just-in-time, Digital Economy using the learned methods and technologies, including RFID. Read the remaining Chapters, i.e. 14 to 20 in the eBook.
Please note again, that you can resubmit the improved version of each assignment, assuming you have submitted each of them on due date (as above) as part of the LAST assignment, i.e. Assignment 5. Please email me the improved version of your assignments, if applicable, with the last assignment together, NOT earlier than that. Thanks!
Submit by Assignment No. 5: This is a critically important assignment because you have to show me what you have learned in this semester in my class... Are you an 'A' or a 'B' or a '?'... student? TQM Audit and How to Improve a Selected, Industrial System using RFID / TQM methods to create a sustainable green product, process or service: TQM in a Global, Distributed, Just-in-time, Digital Economy.
Also, write a quality-focused press release to market your company. Please follow the already discussed eight ISO 9001:2008 quality principles and the guidelines below:
Class 15: LAST CLASS!!!! Assignment Reviews / Discussions over the web this Week! We'll discuss any questions you have.
May 9, 11.59 pm, 2014 = ABSOLUTELY THE LAST DAY TO SUBMIT any assignments! All submissions MUST be electronic = by email / with a web URL in it; NOT several separate files please; I cannot accept several separate files, sorry, this is the 21st Century... we live in a digital age...
Schedule and due dates: As above. The total course duration is 15 weeks. We don't have a Midterm exam. All assessments are based on assignments and student activities described in this syllabus.
We will have a one or two hybrid classes when you don't have to come to school (live students). Students will be required to complete each assignment. Assignments totaling 100% max.
Grade "A" for this class requires min. 90% total. Thank you for helping me to be able to help you! Your success is my success too!
One more time, the NJIT Grade Scale:
90-100 = A
85-89 = B+
80-84 = B
75-79 = C+
70-74 = C
60-69 = D
0-59 = F
The Results of the Anonymous Total Quality Feedback Form: IE673 (December, 2006)
Laboratory Development Review for Grad. Classes (Ranky, December 2006)
I would like to introduce several laboratory activities to my graduate classes, and therefore I am asking you the following: (Please rate 0 to 10, 10 being the most important / agree, AND please comment if you can! THANKS!)
Q1. Would you like to have our classes in a lab-setting? (i.e. the class and the lab is one integrated whole, as in a studio, with computers, equipment, demos, nice chairs and tables all in one, in a large room)?
100% stated: yes, absolutely no question about that...
Q2: Do you think automated inspection methods and tools are important? (e.g. machine vision, sensors, etc.)
Over 95% stated yes, and rated 10
Q3: Do you think rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing to achieve quality products and processes is important?
Over 80% stated yes, and rated 10
Q4: Do you think digital design and digital manufacturing (PLM, Product Lifecycle Management) in the TQM context is important?
Over 80% stated yes, and rated 10
Q5: Do you think automation, sensors, robots, in-process inspection to secure zero defect production is important?
Over 95% stated yes, and rated 10
Q6: Do you think medical engineering / pharma. quality process demos are important?
Over 80% stated yes, and rated 10
Q7: Do you think design for quality, design for safety, illustrated with real-world labs. is important?
Over 95% stated yes, and rated 10
Q8: Do you think lean design, manufacture, service, enterprise... is important?
Over 95% stated yes, and rated 10
Informal Quality Feedback Form (Ranky, December, 2006)
Please review the following topics for this class by rating each topic between 0 to 10 (0 = meaning not important / poor quality and 10 = extremely important / excellent!). This feedback form will help your instructor to maximize quality satisfaction.
1. Web-based syllabus (... OK it is long, but is it helpful? Did you read it?):
Over 95% stated yes, and rated 10 ('Typical response: ... it is long, but has all the detail...')
2. eLearning Pack with DVDs and 3D interactive eBooks. (Do you prefer interactive, full color learning resources, or static, black & white traditional printed books?:
100% stated yes, prefer the interactive eBooks versus the traditional printed textbook. Some asked for a printed version too (pls. note, that every eBook can be printed from a browser if you have the money for the ink... some are over 800 pages long...obviously interactive active code, videos, spreadsheet cannot be enjoyed on paper...)
3. Engineering management focus on how to find and reduce quality-related waste:
Over 95% stated yes, and rated 10
4. Object-oriented TQM information system models and process modeling
Over 95% stated yes, and rated 10
5. CORA: QFD (Quality Function Deployment); Requirements Analysis
Over 90% stated yes, and rated 10
6. Process improvement and process control analysis: quantitative methods: control charts for variables and attributes
Over 80% stated yes, and rated 10
7. A real-world challenges and examples on DVDs, based on virtual tours
Over 90% stated yes, and rated 10
8. TQM -oriented risk analysis: PFRA: Process risk analysis
Over 90% stated yes, and rated 10
9. How the learned methods and tools fit together, and how we can integrate them for specific applications
Over 90% stated yes, and rated 10
10. TQM globalization issues
Over 95% stated yes, and rated 10
11. TQM continuous improvement methods and tools illustrated by industrial and R&D case studies
Over 95% stated yes, and rated 10
12. Any other 'Hot TQM / Engineering Management' topics we should cover? Please list and explain.
RFID is a hot topic; also six-sigma challenges in industry; more virtual factory tours on DVD; any realistic issues in the real-world; practical solutions;
=============The Results of the Anonymous Total Quality Feedback Form: IE673 (January 23, 2003) =================
Please rate the following topics planned to be covered in this class by rating each topic between 0 (not important / poor) and 10 (extremely important / excellent!) on the right hand side of the sheet please!
This feedback form will help your instructor to dynamically adjust the breath and the depth of the topics to be covered in this semester in this class to maximize your level of quality satisfaction.
Topics (as per the web-based syllabus) Your rating (0 -> 10)
Web-based syllabus (TQM improvement opportunity: most students haven't seen the syllabus at the time we have started the class... Solution: NJIT should put the live course syllabi (prepared by faculty) with a hot link to the course registration page on the web too... the DL course syllabi are already hotlinked to the web, and this system works reasonably well)
eLearning Pack (Because of the above, the students did not know about the eLearning Packs)
What is TQM? Why do we need TQM, and what are the main drivers? TQM in a traditional and in a modern design and manufacturing, and service -oriented enterprise. (Rated: Very High)
TQM in a traditional and in a modern design and manufacturing, and service -oriented enterprise. (Rated: Very High).
An overview of US and international TQM standards (Rated: High).
TQM process and enterprise models. (Rated: High).
Engineering management focus on how to find and reduce quality-related waste, and how to create TQM models, that are analytical, quantitative and computational, as well as have a chance of getting implemented in an enterprise. (Rated: Very High).
An overview of modern TQM knowledge documentation and knowledge management methods and issues. (Rated: Medium)
An overview of the assignments in this course, and a discussion on what the students have to accomplish to pass this course with a high grade. (Rated: Medium).
Object oriented TQM information system models and process modeling. (Rated: Medium)
QFD (Quality Function Deployment); TQM Requirements Analysis is discussed with 3D Virtual Reality examples as an integrated Total Quality Management methodology. (Rated: High).
Process Improvement and Process Control Analysis, and a Quantitative, Computational Solution: Control Charts for Variables and Attributes. Mathematical modeling with examples. (Rated: High).
The Lean Six Sigma Methodology for TQM in Design, Manufacturing, Assembly and Service. (Rated: High).
The Five 'S's explained with examples (i.e. Sort, Set, Shine, Standardize, Sustain). (Rated: High).
An overview of Design For Quality, Assembly, Disassembly, KANRI, KAISEN, MUDA, MURA, MURI, POKA-YOKE. (Rated: Medium; nevertheless many students did not know what this meant, so we'll discuss these methods)
The role of Quality Standards and Quality Circles. (Rated: High)
A real-world TQM challenge, based on a virtual tour of an existing facility. (Rated: High)
JIT and Kanban (Lean) production control methods for design, manufacturing, assembly and service quality Improvement. (Rated: High)
TQM tools. (Rated: Very High)
How the learned methods and tools fit together, and how we can integrate them for specific applications. (Rated: Very High)
TQM team management methods and issues. TQM in the automotive, aerospace, food, service, medical, and other TQM standards re-visited. (Rated: High).
Quality ethics. Enterprise -wide quality leadership, implementation and management methods. (Rated: Very High).
Globalization issues. (Rated: Medium)
TQM cultural issues; Conflict in the workplace, and how TQM methods and principles can help to avoid them. (Rated: High)
Continuous improvement methods and cases. (Rated: Very High)
TQM project presentation skills. (Rated: High).
Industrial and R&D Case studies for every topic (as listed above). (Two groups have emerged: one rated Very High, the other one Medium)
Any other topic you would like to cover? Please explain. (Received none, meaning, that the class is happy with the offered topics)
It is over! Congratulations! You can now analyze and improve many products and services!
PLEASE save the TREES! Please DO NOT Print this syllabus. Use this web site to read it in this electronic format; it will be updated during the semester. Thank you!