Technology Systems B.S.: Quality & Reliability Emphasis

"...this program helped me to know what to focus on to confidently achieve success in the industry."

A Major For Students Who Are:

  • Looking for a career in a technology-related field.
  • Working on a technology-based certificate at one of Utah's USTC programs.
  • Currently enrolled in Utah State University and looking for a major that can build upon your technical interests and background.
  • Working part of full-time, and looking for a path to create greater mobility, responsibility, and earning power.

Students completing the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in General Technology can now directly move their credits into the Technology Systems Bachelor of Science (BS) pathway including their 900 hour certificate from a Utah System of Technical Colleges (USTC).

Students will study a variety of subjects based on the emphasis area they choose. Business, marketing, lean manufacturing, CAD, robotics, controls, material science, quality & reliability systems, electronics, color theory, textiles, digital design, computer science, cyber security, computer networking, and computer automation are just a few areas that students can discover through their coursework.

An intention of this program is to allow those in the workforce an opportunity to advance in their career and to further their education by offering degrees that work well with their demanding schedules.

Students without a USTC certificate or the AAS in General Technology may also look toward this program to potentially utilize credits they have taken at Utah State University or other institutions. Students in Business, Engineering, and Outdoor Product are switching to Technology Systems to finish a program sooner or if they are having difficulty completing their current degree.

Old Main Building at Utah State University

Career Opportunities:

  • Information Technology Manager: $80,722
  • Industrial Automation & Robotics Specialist: $72,875
  • Product Development Technician: $92,660
  • Technical Management: $92,970
  • Quality Assurance Manager: $96,761

Quality & Reliability Courses

TESY 4500: Quality Management Systems

  1. Gain an understanding of the history of quality as well as the rise and development of quality management systems.
  2. Discuss the importance of quality standards, models, and awards (ISO, TQM, Malcolm Baldridge, etc.).
  3. Develop an understanding of the role of technology, managers, employees and customers in developing a quality-based workplace.
  4. Identify ethical and unethical behavior in quality management.
  5. Gain a basic understanding of metrology, quality control and data analysis.
  6. Identify the key aspects of the quality improvement cycle and learn how to select and use fundamental quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) elements to control, correct and improve processes and products. 

TESY 4530: Principles of Lean Manufacturing

  1. To provide a clear and simple understanding of lean production: its components, and how they fit together, and the culture that animates them. 
  2. Provide real-world examples of lean principles in application. 
  3. Focus on lean as a system versus individual tools and components.
  4. Discuss the history and key figures surrounding the concept of waste elimination.
  5. Understanding of basic lean principle/tools, implemented strategically as a system, and driven by an overarching culture for continuous improvement. 

TESY 4510:Quality Root Cause Analysis Methods & Applications

  1. Understand when to use the problem-solving process.
  2. Organize a problem-solving process, monitor for results, quantify the benefits, and improve the process. 
  3. Practice working as a team member, building the respect for other members, achieving team consensus, and gaining buy-in for creative, fact-based change. 
  4. Outline a 6-step root cause, analysis process that promotes critical thinking, creative collaboration, countermeasure analysis and solution verification.
  5. Select and apply a range of RCA tools to solve different problems:
    1. 5-why
    2. Design and application review
    3. Ishikawa (fishbone)
    4. Sequence of events
    5. Fault tree analysis
    6. Change analysis
    7. Events and casual factors
    8. FMEA

TESY 4540: Quality Management Systems II

  1. Introduction to reliability and lifecycle management.
  2. Benefits of auditing (internal and external). How to plan and carryout an effective audit. 
  3. Identify useful quality improvement techniques for continual improvement.
  4. Introduction to risk analysis and effective corrective action techniques.
  5. Understand core quality assurance concepts including change management, configuration management, document control, identification and traceability, part and materials management, verification and validation.
  6. Analyze current issues, challenges and developments in quality management. 

TESY 4520: Statistical Quality Control w/SPC

  1. Demonstrate the ability to use the methods of statistical process control.
  2. Demonstrate the ability to design, use, and interpret control charts for variables. 
  3. Demonstrate the ability to design, use, and interpret control charts for attributes.
  4. Perform analysis of process capability and measurement system capability.
  5. Design, use, and interpret exponentially weighted moving average and moving average control charts. 
 

Getting Started

For Registration Help, Contact:

Lisa Hunsaker - lisa.hunsaker@usu.edu
Cory Ortiz - cory.ortiz@usu.edu