Engineering Quality Assurance

Course Description

This upper-division course provides a comprehensive study of quality assurance theory, systems, and tools as applied in engineering and industrial technology environments. Students examine the principles of quality management, statistical process control (SPC), quality standards, and continuous improvement methodologies used to ensure product and process quality. Emphasis is placed on applying quantitative and analytical tools to monitor, control, and improve manufacturing and industrial processes. This course is a required component of the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology (BSET) — Industrial Engineering Technology concentration and is offered under the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) taxonomy: Engineering Technologies > Industrial Systems Technology.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes — Common across all Florida college offerings of ETI3116:

• Explain the fundamental principles and philosophies of quality assurance and quality control in engineering and manufacturing contexts.
• Apply statistical process control (SPC) techniques, including construction and interpretation of control charts (X-bar, R, p, c, and u charts).
• Calculate and interpret process capability indices (Cp, Cpk) to assess whether a process meets specified tolerances.
• Demonstrate methods of quality assurance in manufacturing environments, including inspection planning and acceptance sampling.
• Identify and apply the Seven Basic Quality Tools (Pareto chart, cause-and-effect diagram, histogram, control chart, scatter diagram, check sheet, and flowchart).
• Describe and apply requirements of international quality standards, including ISO 9001 quality management system frameworks.
• Analyze production and process data to identify sources of variation and recommend corrective actions.
• Communicate quality findings and recommendations effectively through written reports and oral presentations.

Optional Outcomes — May be covered depending on instructor and institutional emphasis:

• Apply Six Sigma (DMAIC) methodology to quality improvement projects.
• Apply lean manufacturing principles, including identification and elimination of non-value-added activities in design, production, and supply chain management.
• Evaluate supplier quality management practices and develop supplier audit procedures.
• Describe sector-specific quality standards such as AS9100 (aerospace), IATF 16949 (automotive), or ISO 13485 (medical devices).
• Use statistical software (e.g., Minitab, JMP, or Excel) to perform SPC analysis and generate quality reports.
• Apply Design of Experiments (DOE) concepts to optimize process parameters and reduce variability.

Major Topics

Required Topics — Covered in all standard offerings of ETI3116:

• Foundations of Quality — History and evolution of quality; contributions of Deming, Juran, Crosby, Ishikawa, and Shewhart; cost of quality (COQ).
• Quality Management Systems (QMS) — ISO 9001 structure, documentation requirements, internal auditing, and certification processes.
• Statistical Foundations — Probability distributions (normal, binomial, Poisson); descriptive statistics; sampling theory; hypothesis testing as applied to quality.
• Statistical Process Control (SPC) — Variables and attributes control charts; Western Electric rules; out-of-control signals; rational subgrouping.
• Process Capability Analysis — Cp, Cpk, Pp, Ppk indices; tolerance analysis; measurement system analysis (MSA) / Gauge R&R.
• Acceptance Sampling — Single, double, and sequential sampling plans; operating characteristic (OC) curves; AQL and LTPD concepts; MIL-STD-1916.
• Seven Basic Quality Tools — Practical application to identify, analyze, and solve quality problems in engineering environments.
• Inspection and Testing — Inspection planning; product and process audits; metrology fundamentals; non-destructive testing (NDT) overview.
• Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) — Root cause analysis methods (5-Why, fishbone/Ishikawa diagram, fault tree analysis); CAPA documentation.
• Total Quality Management (TQM) — TQM principles; customer focus; continuous improvement culture; Deming's 14 Points; PDCA cycle.

Optional Topics — May be included at instructor or institutional discretion:

• Lean Manufacturing and Waste Elimination — Value stream mapping; 5S; kaizen events; identification and elimination of the eight wastes (muda).
• Six Sigma and DMAIC — Six Sigma levels; DMAIC project framework; tollgate reviews; project selection and chartering.
• Design of Experiments (DOE) — Full and fractional factorial designs; response surface methodology; Taguchi methods for robust design.
• Reliability Engineering Fundamentals — Failure rate; MTBF; FMEA/FMECA; reliability testing.
• Sector-Specific Standards — IATF 16949 (automotive), AS9100 (aerospace), ISO 13485 (medical); AIAG core quality tools (APQP, PPAP, MSA, FMEA, SPC).
• Software-Assisted Quality Analysis — Use of Minitab, JMP, or Microsoft Excel for control chart generation, process capability studies, and data visualization.
• Supply Chain and Supplier Quality — Supplier qualification; incoming inspection; supplier scorecards; first article inspection (FAI).

Resources & Tools

• Textbooks: Commonly used texts include Quality Control by Dale Besterfield; Introduction to Statistical Quality Control by Douglas Montgomery; and Juran's Quality Handbook.
• Standards Documents: ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems standard; ASQ Body of Knowledge references.
• Software: Minitab (statistical analysis and SPC charting); JMP; Microsoft Excel with data analysis add-in.
• Professional Organizations: American Society for Quality (ASQ) — student membership resources, Body of Knowledge, and certification exam preparation materials.
• Reference Manuals: AIAG Automotive Quality Core Tools Manuals (SPC, MSA, FMEA, APQP, PPAP) for students pursuing automotive quality careers.

Career Pathways

Graduates who complete ETI3116 are prepared for quality-focused roles in manufacturing, aerospace, defense, healthcare, and industrial technology sectors. Typical career pathways include:

• Quality Assurance Engineer / Quality Control Technician — Monitoring production processes, conducting audits, and analyzing defect data.
• Process Improvement Specialist / Lean-Six Sigma Analyst — Leading continuous improvement initiatives using DMAIC and lean tools.
• Manufacturing Engineer — Integrating quality planning into product design and production processes.
• Quality Management Systems (QMS) Auditor — Conducting internal and supplier audits for ISO 9001 and sector-specific certifications.
• Reliability / Metrology Technician — Managing gauge calibration, measurement systems analysis, and reliability testing programs.
• Industrial Engineering Technologist (BSET pathway) — ETI3116 is a required course in the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology — Industrial Engineering Technology (BSET-IET) concentration at Daytona State College.

Special Information

Certification Preparation: The content of ETI3116 directly supports preparation for the following industry-recognized certifications offered by the American Society for Quality (ASQ):

• CQT — Certified Quality Technician
• CQE — Certified Quality Engineer
• CSSGB / CSSBB — Certified Six Sigma Green Belt / Black Belt
• CQA — Certified Quality Auditor

Students seeking employment in automotive supply chain environments should be aware that IATF 16949 and AIAG core quality tools (SPC, MSA, FMEA, APQP, PPAP) are widely required by manufacturers and Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers. Students pursuing aerospace careers should note the relevance of AS9100 and NADCAP quality frameworks.

ABET Accreditation Context: This course supports program-level student outcomes required for ABET accreditation of Engineering Technology programs, specifically outcomes related to quality assurance methods, data-driven problem solving, and application of technical standards.