Quality Management Systems, A.S.

The Associate in Science in Quality Management Systems program prepares students for entry-level positions in the quality management field or to pursue a baccalaureate degree. It is also an excellent program for people who are working in the field without a degree who seek advancement opportunities in their chosen career that require an associate degree.

The Associate in Science in Quality Management Systems covers the basics of quality management, manufacturing principles, quality inspection techniques, materials & processing, interpreting engineering drawings, problem solving, measurement and test equipment, calibration, lean manufacturing, statistical process control, teamwork and supplier quality control.

Students completing an Associate in Science in Quality Management Systems will earn 61-62 credits and have the opportunity to receive nationally-recognized credentials from the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) as a Certified Production Technician (CPT). Students may choose to continue their studies in a range of baccalaureate programs including Manufacturing and Business Administration programs.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, graduates will be able to:

1. Earn nationally-recognized, portable credentials from the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC);
2. Contribute to manufacturing system technology and quality management with an understanding of lean tools;
3. Apply lean tools to manage inventory, production process and quality to meet financial and supplier requirements;
4. Establish quality assurance processes and train staff to meet quality audits;
5. Develop and characterize careers and trends in manufacturing using cost of quality, impact of quality, and safety on the production process;
6. Develop grades and standards of quality, acceptance sampling and inspection procedures and prepare and institute quality assurance mechanisms;
7. Apply financial metrics to the manufacturing decision-making process;
8. Apply stakeholder relevant competencies in support of customer desires and needs;
9. Analyze and manage key elements of a high performance manufacturing organization related to logistics, quality, and manufacturing;
10. Integrate regulatory and government regulations into the quality management systems environment;
11. Demonstrate competency in the research, product development and test process, including the handoff between processes as it applies to manufacturing; and
12. Assess and evaluate strategies for production and quality systems for an organization.

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete all graduation requirements as stated in the catalog. In addition, students must maintain a GPA of 2.3 in the major.