Course Title: Apply quality system and continuous improvement processes

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2012

Course Code: MIET6280C

Course Title: Apply quality system and continuous improvement processes

School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5283 - Diploma of Laboratory Technology (Pathology Testing)

Course Contact: Namrita Kaul

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4309

Course Contact Email: namrita.kaul@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Namrita Kaul

Tel No: 99254309

namrita.kadalbajoo@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 80

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

Completion of 1st year courses

Course Description

This unit of competency covers the exercise of good laboratory practice and effective participation in quality improvement teams. Personnel are required to ensure the quality and integrity of their own work and detect non-conformances and work with others to suggest improvements in productivity and quality.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

MSL934002A Apply quality system and continuous improvement processes

Element:

1. Satisfy quality system requirements in daily work
 

Performance Criteria:

1.1. Access information on quality system requirements for own job function
1.2. Record and report quality control data in accordance with quality system
1.3. Follow quality control procedures to ensure products, or data, are of a defined quality as an aid to acceptance or rejection
1.4. Recognise and report non-conformances or problems
1.5. Conduct work in accordance with sustainable energy work practices
1.6. Promote sustainable energy principles and work practices to other workers
 

Element:

2. Analyse opportunities for corrective and/or optimisation action
 

Performance Criteria:

2.1. Compare current work practices, procedures and process or equipment performance with requirements and/or historical data or records
2.2. Recognise variances that indicate abnormal or sub-optimal performance
2.3. Collect and/or evaluate batch and/or historical records to determine possible causes for sub-optimal performance
2.4. Use appropriate quality improvement techniques to rank the probabilities of possible causes
 

Element:

3. Recommend corrective and/or optimisation actions
 

Performance Criteria:

3.1. Analyse causes to predict likely impacts of changes and decide on the appropriate actions
3.2. Identify required changes to standards and procedures and training
3.3. Report recommendations to designated personnel
 

Element:

4. Participate in the implementation of recommended actions
 

Performance Criteria:

4.1. Implement approved actions and monitor performance following changes to evaluate results
4.2. Implement changes to systems and procedures to eliminate possible causes
4.3. Document outcomes of actions and communicate them to relevant personnel
 

Element:

5. Participate in the development of continuous improvement strategies
 

Performance Criteria:

5.1. Review all relevant features of work practice to identify possible contributing factors leading to sub-optimal performance
5.2. Identify options for removing or controlling the risk of sub-optimal performance
5.3. Assess the adequacy of current controls, quality methods and systems
5.4. Identify opportunities to continuously improve performance
5.5. Develop recommendations for continual improvements of work practices, methods, procedures and equipment effectiveness
5.6. Consult with appropriate personnel to refine recommendations before implementation of approved improvement strategies
5.7. Document outcomes of strategies and communicate them to relevant personnel
 

Learning Outcomes


Outlined in the competencies


Details of Learning Activities

• Online learning material
• Online learning activities
• Online assessment tasks/quizzes
 

Class room activities/peer group learning through discussion board(myRMIT Studies)


Teaching Schedule

Week No/Date Topic  
1(9th July)
 		 Introduction, Meaning of quality, Basics of quality and quality system
Meaning of QA, QC and QM and role of Quality in a Laboratory
 		  
2(16th July)
 		 Continue with previous week and
Various organisations and their roles in managing quality in a laboratory
 		  
3(23rd July)
 		 Safety in a laboratory, QC procedures, measurements and parameters, accuracy and precision, bias, range of acceptance  
4(30th July)
 		 Document and data control in a laboratory  
5(6th August)
 		 QC and Non-conformance, Budgeting and Stock control  
6(13th August)
 		 Audits – Internal and External  
7(20th August)
 		 Review of Basic Statistics, QC tools  
8(27th August)
 		 Mid Sem Exam  
9(3rd Sept)
 		 Introduction to Control Charts,  
10(10th Sept)
 		 Statistics in QC, Levey-Jennings Charts, more on Control Charts  
11(17th Sept)
 		 X-bar Charts, R-Charts  
12(24th Sept)
 		 Holiday Week  
13(1st October)
 		 Continue with (Xbar, Rcharts)  
14(8th October)
 		 Cusum Charts, QC Tools, Moving Average and Range Charts  
15(15th October)
 		 Ishikawa Charts and Pareto Charts, PDCA cycle  
16 (22nd October)
 

Definitions/Terminology used in QC

Staff management, Ethics and Legalities
Revision Week
 

  
17(29th October) End Sem Exam  


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References

Class room handouts and online resources will be provided throughout the semester.


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

The participant must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of a particular competency to be deemed competent. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks.

Assessment will incorporate a variety of methods including technical requirements documentation, in class exercises, quizzes, and presentations. Participants are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.
 


Assessment Tasks

Here is the outline of  assessments for this module. Detailed information wil be provided on "myRMIT Studies" and during the class room.
1 Understanding Quality Control in a laboratory(QA, QM, QC). Various Organisations and their roles in implementing QC in a laborarory.23rd July(Online during class time in the class room) 10%
2 Mid semester exam 27th August 30%
3 Understanding QC Tools 17th Sept (online) 10%
5 Control Charts(Plot Xbar and Rchart using minitab) 15th October Class room using minitab 10%
6 End of Sem Exam 29th October 30%
7 Participation in discussion forums Ongoing 10%
 


Assessment Matrix

Course Overview: Access Course Overview