Business Improvement Techniques

Course Overview

Type of Course and Awarding Body

NVQ Level 4

Level

Level Four

What's it all about?

This course is primarily aimed at those who are employed as supervisors, managers, team leaders or facilitators, and are responsible for carrying out business improvement activities, or for those prepared to take on staff responsibilities in a business improvement environment.

Progression

Upon successful completion you may progress to a Foundation Degree in Business Improvement Techniques. Alternatively, there are a number of opportunities in business within the lean management sector.

Entry Requirements

You will need to obtain approval from your company management to be allowed time and support to be able to complete the programme, and have permission to take on and lead at least three team projects and be responsible for team and policy/procedural change.

Duration

Up to 18 months

Business Benefits

NVQs in Business Improvement Techniques, available at levels 2, 3 and 4, are appropriate to all levels within an organisation - from first level to management. The modules covered are relevant to all types of businesses, and include effective team working, continuous improvement techniques, workplace organisation and problem-solving techniques.

Key business benefits include an overall, sustainable improvement in performance; a direct reduction in operating costs and waste; and improved staff motivation and effectiveness.

Run On Demand?

Yes

Roll On Roll Off?

Yes

Are there any exams?

You will need to collect a variety of evidence you have produced or worked on such as plans, charts, reports, standard operating procedures or documents produced as part of a work activity, statements, observations and testimonies to build a portfolio. All of this will be under the guidance of an assessor. Once the criteria for each unit have been met, the unit will be signed off as competent.

Course Content

What does the course involve?

There is a choice of two pathways within the qualification and candidates can choose from either a Process or Quality pathway.

Process Improvement Pathway

You are required to complete all seven mandatory units, plus one from Group A, plus five optional units, where three of these could come from the level 4 quality improvement pathway.

Mandatory Units:

complying with statutory regulations and organisational safety requirements
leading effective teams
carrying out project management activities.

Optional units

You must complete all five units from group A, three optional units from group B, where two of these units can be selected from the Process Improvement Pathway and two more optional units from Group C, where one of these units can be selected from the Process Improvement Pathway.

Group A:

Leading the carrying out of Statistical Process Control Procedures
Leading Potential Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) activities
Leading the allocation of Six Sigma Methodology to a project
Leading the Dix Digma Process Mapping activities
Leading the carrying out of Basic statistical analysis

Group B:

Leading Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA) activities
Carrying out Design of Experiments (DOE)
Leading mistake/error proffing (POKA YOKE) activities
Leading the applicatioin of Six Sigma Metrics to a project
Leading the production of a Characteristic Selection Matrix
Leading the carrying out of capability studies
Leading the production of multi variance charts
Leading hypothesis testing activities

Group C:

Applying Quality Function Deployment (QFD)
Carrying out Evolutionary Operations (EVOP)
Applying Central Liit Theorem and Confidence Intervals
Producing Taguchi Linear graphs
Applying Response Surface methodology

When can I study?

Various times and days - distance learning

Course Facts

This course is run on a roll on roll off/run on demand basis, enrolments available throughout the year. . Please contact us for further information on 01752 305300 or e-mail info@cityplym.ac.uk.