Business Improvement - LABS4070

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Module delivery information

Location Term Level1 Credits (ECTS)2 Current Convenor3 2025 to 2026
Medway
Year (Non Standard) 4 15 (7.5) Khawar Naveed Bhatti checkmark-circle

Overview

A synopsis of the curriculum

An overview of the continuous improvement process illustrating how it is being applied throughout the bioscience industries.

Building and leading effective teams
Project management in the workplace
Business improvement process cycles – PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) and the progression to DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control). DMAIC will then be used as the cycle to deploy the methodologies and tools.
Methodologies: - Lean (reduction of "waste" in all its forms and productivity improvement); - Six Sigma (reduction in process variation and elimination of errors)
Continuous Improvement Reporting – the Toyota A3 Report

Details

Contact hours

Total Hours: 150 including: "off the job" learning (approximately 88 hours) and on the job learning.

Method of assessment

Hypothetical Project 50% - composed of individual assignments (2500 words in total)
Online Moodle Quiz 20%
Presentation 30% (20 minutes)

All assessments must be passed in order to pass the module.
Reassessment is Like-for-like

Indicative reading

See the library reading list for this module (Medway)

Learning outcomes

The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
Demonstrate a working knowledge of project management and an ability to relate this to the current work environment.
Demonstrate a clear understanding of the various continuous improvement cycles, methodologies and tools that are commonly employed in a process plant, laboratory or office business context.
Apply a project management or continuous improvement process to a real work based situation confidently.
Show the ability to critically self-appraise the application and impact of the project management or continuous improvement process project and to identify its' strengths and weaknesses.
Clearly communicate the findings through a report and presentation to a varied target audience.

The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:

Demonstrate the development of practical/technical skills.
Analyse, evaluate and correctly interpret data.
Communicate and present data effectively.
Obtain and use information from a variety of sources as part of self-directed learning.
Manage their time and use their organisation skills within the context of self-directed learning.

Notes

  1. Credit level 4. Certificate level module usually taken in the first stage of an undergraduate degree.
  2. ECTS credits are recognised throughout the EU and allow you to transfer credit easily from one university to another.
  3. The named convenor is the convenor for the current academic session.
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