The course aims to complete the students' economic-business education with theoretical-methodological contents that are useful both in deepening the management aspects of production and in applying Total Quality Management. To this end, the course provides the knowledge, methodologies and tools to manage organizations with a view to continuous improvement, developing the ability to set and implement production and quality strategies, including social and environmental, in any organizational context, public or private. The course includes integrating managerial elements with quantitative aspects and introducing students to statistical techniques for quality control.

Knowledge and understanding: at the end of the course, the student must have acquired the knowledge and the ability to understand the specificities of the different production and quality management systems as stated and represented in the study program. Understanding of the topics covered will be demonstrated through presentation skills, in the sense of personalized exposition and, in any case, correct in the specific language, and the ability to elaborate examples autonomously. Knowledge and understanding will be favoured with lectures and examples and through confrontation and debate in the classroom.

Applying knowledge, patience and understanding: at the end of the course, the student must be able to apply appropriately, in different sector and market situations, the principles and models of the company organization implemented in a production system and a  quality management system, with particular reference to:

. the fundamental criteria, methods and techniques of production management and quality management, in particular, those of Quality Management derived from ISO standards;

· the principles and methods of process management with particular reference to critical processes;

· the aspects and elements of the certification of a product and system;

· The methods and techniques of continuous improvement and problem-solving.

Business case discussions, group work and in-depth seminars will facilitate the development of analytical skills and outcome competencies.

Making judgments: at the end of the course, the student must have acquired the ability to independently identify and evaluate the adoption of the most appropriate tools for the implementation, in the different types of organizations, of paths aimed at the adoption of production systems and quality management systems.

Communication: at the end of the course, the student must have acquired clear and practical communication skills, thanks to a good command of the vocabulary related to the topics covered during the course, to interpret and communicate, both inside and outside the organizations, management performance with a view to continuous improvement. For this purpose, the specific vocabulary must be acquired through interventions by the student during the lessons requested by the teacher.

Learning skills: at the end of the course, the student must have developed good autonomous learning skills that allow:

· to deepen the conceptual tools and operational skills suitable for dealing with the production techniques and the multiple quality management techniques of organizations and the relative models for evaluating the results achieved;

· to undertake further individual training/refresher courses.

The capacity in question will be solicited through research activities on the net and in-depth material provided by the teacher on the platform.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

The course material provided by the teacher is available, together with other supporting activities, within the Moodle platform blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

The course involves the use of different teaching methods: frontal lessons, possible group works and preparation of papers on case studies and classroom discussions. 

Innovative teaching methods

Debate

Attendance

Compulsory attendance  is not expected. 

Course books

F. Murmura, L. Bravi (2020). I Sistemi di Gestione per la Qualità, l'Ambiente e l'Etica, pp. 1-260, Aracne Editrice, Roma, ISBN 978-88-255-3022-3.

Lecture notes and other course materials made available on Moodle platform> blended.uniurb.it.

Assessment

An intermediate test is scheduled in the week indicated in the University Academic Calendar. The assessment uses an oral interview during which the student must demonstrate that they have fully mastered the concepts covered in the first part of the course, ranging from the evolution of production systems to the Quality Management System (cf. Program information: points 1 to 9 inclusive) and the indispensable skills/competences to implement the operational strategies. In addition, the student must be able to present their arguments rigorously and use appropriate language.

In particular, the expected learning outcomes will be assessed by formulating three or more questions. The assessment criteria and marks are determined according to the following scale

• less than 18/30 - insufficient level: the student does not achieve any of the expected learning outcomes under 'knowledge and understanding';
• 18-20/30 - sufficient level: the student achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes under 'knowledge and understanding';
• 21-23/30 - level entirely sufficient: the student achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes under 'knowledge and understanding' and 'applied knowledge and understanding
• 24-26/30 - good level: the student achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes under the headings "knowledge and understanding", "applied knowledge and understanding", and "independent judgement";
• 27-29/30 - very good level: the student achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes under the headings "knowledge and understanding"; "applied knowledge and understanding"; "independent judgement" and "communication skills";
• 30-30 with distinction - excellent level: the student fully achieves the learning outcomes set out under the headings "knowledge and understanding", "applied knowledge and understanding", "independent judgement", "communication skills", and "ability to learn".

Suppose the student intends to make use of the successful intermediate examination. In that case, they are exempt from the relevant part of the syllabus during the examination, and the examination mark awarded by the Board is the average of the final and intermediate examination marks.

For students who do not participate or do not achieve a passing mark in the mid-term examination, the assessment uses an oral interview during which the student must demonstrate that they have fully mastered the concepts covered throughout the course and the indispensable skills/competencies to implement operational strategies. Furthermore, the student must be able to present their arguments rigorously and use appropriate language.

In particular, the expected learning outcomes will be assessed by formulating three or more questions. The assessment criteria and marks are determined according to the following scale

• less than 18/30 - insufficient level: the student does not achieve any of the expected learning outcomes under 'knowledge and understanding';
• 18-20/30 - sufficient level: the student achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes under 'knowledge and understanding';
• 21-23/30 - entirely sufficient level: the student achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes stipulated under 'knowledge and understanding' and 'applied knowledge and understanding';
• 24-26/30 - good level: the student achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes under the headings "knowledge and understanding", "applied knowledge and understanding", and "independent judgement";
• 27-29/30 - very good level: the student achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes under the headings "knowledge and understanding"; "applied knowledge and understanding"; "independent judgement" and "communication skills";
• 30-30 with distinction - excellent level: the student fully achieves the learning outcomes set out under the headings "knowledge and understanding", "applied knowledge and understanding", "independent judgement", "communication skills", and "ability to learn".

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Course books

F. Murmura, L. Bravi (2020). I Sistemi di Gestione per la Qualità, l'Ambiente e l'Etica, pp. 1-260, Aracne Editrice, Roma, ISBN 978-88-255-3022-3.

Lecture notes and other course materials made available on Moodle platform> blended.uniurb.it.

Assessment

An intermediate test is scheduled in the week indicated in the University Academic Calendar. The assessment uses an oral interview during which the student must demonstrate that they have fully mastered the concepts covered in the first part of the course, ranging from the evolution of production systems to the Quality Management System (cf. Program information: points 1 to 9 inclusive) and the indispensable skills/competences to implement the operational strategies. In addition, the student must be able to present their arguments rigorously and use appropriate language.

In particular, the expected learning outcomes will be assessed by formulating three or more questions. The assessment criteria and marks are determined according to the following scale

• less than 18/30 - insufficient level: the student does not achieve any of the expected learning outcomes under 'knowledge and understanding';
• 18-20/30 - sufficient level: the student achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes under 'knowledge and understanding';
• 21-23/30 - level entirely sufficient: the student achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes under 'knowledge and understanding' and 'applied knowledge and understanding
• 24-26/30 - good level: the student achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes under the headings "knowledge and understanding", "applied knowledge and understanding", and "independent judgement";
• 27-29/30 - very good level: the student achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes under the headings "knowledge and understanding"; "applied knowledge and understanding"; "independent judgement" and "communication skills";
• 30-30 with distinction - excellent level: the student fully achieves the learning outcomes set out under the headings "knowledge and understanding", "applied knowledge and understanding", "independent judgement", "communication skills", and "ability to learn".

Suppose the student intends to make use of the successful intermediate examination. In that case, they are exempt from the relevant part of the syllabus during the examination, and the examination mark awarded by the Board is the average of the final and intermediate examination marks.

For students who do not participate or do not achieve a passing mark in the mid-term examination, the assessment uses an oral interview during which the student must demonstrate that they have fully mastered the concepts covered throughout the course and the indispensable skills/competencies to implement operational strategies. Furthermore, the student must be able to present their arguments rigorously and use appropriate language.

In particular, the expected learning outcomes will be assessed by formulating three or more questions. The assessment criteria and marks are determined according to the following scale

• less than 18/30 - insufficient level: the student does not achieve any of the expected learning outcomes under 'knowledge and understanding';
• 18-20/30 - sufficient level: the student achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes under 'knowledge and understanding';
• 21-23/30 - entirely sufficient level: the student achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes stipulated under 'knowledge and understanding' and 'applied knowledge and understanding';
• 24-26/30 - good level: the student achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes under the headings "knowledge and understanding", "applied knowledge and understanding", and "independent judgement";
• 27-29/30 - very good level: the student achieves, in particular, the learning outcomes under the headings "knowledge and understanding"; "applied knowledge and understanding"; "independent judgement" and "communication skills";
• 30-30 with distinction - excellent level: the student fully achieves the learning outcomes set out under the headings "knowledge and understanding", "applied knowledge and understanding", "independent judgement", "communication skills", and "ability to learn".

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.