D7 Information Technology & Quality Management

D7 Information Technology & Quality Management (elective)

Introduction:
Membership of the Institute of Quality Assurance www.iqa.org depends upon previous qualifications and experience. One of the educational requirements is the IQA D7 Information Technology & Quality Management module. This course is intended for personnel wishing to prepare for this examination.

The packages:
The packages are stand-alone private tuition packages that allow the delegate to work at their own pace through the preset training material. There is the option of one day workshops for further training guidance if required.

The distance learning material is presented in six parts that will be sent to you upon course registration. This package includes:

• A comprehensive set of tutorial notes
• Work books
• A course text book - Information Technology and Quality Management by Saunders - supplied free with this distance learning package
• Assignment titles to be submitted for marking
• Typical examination questions with solutions
• Monthly Quality Newsletter with all the very latest QA news, keeping you right up to date and informed on what is happening in the Quality Assurance field
• One year’s unlimited tutorial support is provided by telephone, fax, e-mail or written correspondence as required
• There is an optional revision workshop held six weeks before the exams are due to take place.

The Contents:
This package provides students with an understanding of the application of information technology (IT) within quality management systems. The module also develops a student’s understanding of the principles and techniques of quality management in an IT environment.

It is strongly recommended that the student should be:

• Competent in the use of and have direct access to a computer
• Familiar with the internet and have access to the internet
• Familiar with the concepts and principles of quality management.

Aims of the packages are to:

• Provide students with the concepts of IT and management information
• Develop an appreciation of the application and control of IT within a quality environment
• Develop an understanding of the role of quality management in the development of IT systems and software
• Enhance the student’s awareness of the statutory and regulatory issues associated with the storage, archiving and use of information and the use of IT systems.

On successful completion of this module the student should be able to:

• Critically evaluate the historic development of, and need for, advances in information
• Technology and their potential impact on quality management and management information
• Direct and manage the use and application of IT hardware and software for the management of quality
• Appraise and critically evaluate a range of software applications to support the management of quality and related issues of business management
• Instruct others on the application of quality management principles to the development of software
• Appraise, analyse and manage appropriate measures for safeguarding information
• Manage health and safety issues relating to the use of computers.

Covering

    1. Information technology management

• History and development of management information systems
• Network management and maintenance
• Communication issues (information access and security)
• Internet, intranet and e-commerce
• Disaster recovery.

    2. IT in quality management

• General application of IT to quality management (links to ISO 9001: 2000)
• Quality management databases
• Commercially available applications (e.g. Triangle: Achiever Plus)
• Creating and using a database for calibration, customer complaints
• Audit, corrective and preventive action systems
• The management of documents
• Records, backup and archiving.

    3. IT in systems management

• Selection and evaluation of software
• Systems integration issues (environment, health and safety etc.)
• MRP and ERP systems
• Bespoke software (SPC, six sigma, FMEA etc.)
• Barcode and EDI systems.

    4. Software development

• Software lifecycle
• TickIT, ISO 9001 etc.
• Software project management
• Configuration management
• Software testing
• Software reliability.

    5. Legal issues

• Data protection
• Health and safety (display screen, RSI etc.)
• Risk management
• Computer misuse (case studies)
• Viruses
• Information security (ISO 17799 etc.).

    6. Latest developments and their impact

• Digital communications (for example, video conferencing)
• Virtual learning.

Costs