This module aims to introduce the learner to a range of human resource management issues from the perspective of a line manager and in the context of ensuring compliance to relevant legislation.

1. Appreciate the psychological contract of employment.
2. Describe and evaluate recuitment and selection practices.
3. Illustrate how to conduct effectiveperformance appraisal review.

4. Facilitate a disciplinary meeting.
5. Design and critically review a traning programme.

This module provides a foundation to Production Management concepts and techniques. The historical development of production up to today's modern environment are addressed. Product and Process Design, Layout Planning and Forecasting are introduced. Capacity and Inventory Planning, Materials Planning and Scheduling are explained.

1. Explain the development of modern production management
2. Describe the production system and its various functions.

3. Explain how customers needs are transferred into product specification

4. Compare the different types of production systems
5. Solve simple production management problems

6. Display an understanding of capacity planning, inventory policies, materials planning and scheduling

The student should be able lead a small project team or to provide technical and local support to a Project Manager on a large distributed project.

1. Discuss the project environment, characteristics, objectives, life cycle phases and the dimensions of project success
2. Apply numeric, non-numeric, profitability and scoring models in project selection
3. Discuss the roles and characteristics of project managers and project teams
4. Describe forms of project organisation and identify factors favouring particular forms
5. Describe and apply project planning techniques
6. Determine the differences between managing and leading a project and handling the influences of stakeholders
7. Describe how to build a high performance work team
8. Solve problems relating to resource allocation

This subject aims to provide the students with an understanding of the basic principles underlying workplace behaviour and to increase their ability to analyse issues that concern individuals and groups in organisations.

1. Analyse the methodologies used in organisational behaviour research.
2. Analyse ways that various personality dimensions such as motivation and perception are responsible for individual differences in the workplace.

3. Apply the principles of learning to various organisational activities.
4. Analyse the dynamics of groups and teams in the workplace.
5. Appraise different techniques for managing change in the workplace.
6. Discuss different ways in which conflict can be manifested and managed in organisations.
7. Assess the importance of organisational culture to organisational life.

Quality Management Systems is intended for anyone working in any manufacturing or service sector where a structured approach to product/service quality and customer satisfaction is important. It is ideally suited for those who have some experience of work life at any level and who now wish to develop a deeper understanding of the standards and approaches that facilitate and maintain quality at process and organisational level. The primary emphasis of the course is on the the ISO9000 family of Quality Management System standards but it also looks at equivalent standards in the automotive, pharmaceutical, medical device and food sectors. Related systems such as Environmental and Health and Safety get a mention in terms of similarity and opportunities for integration.

1. Interpret the requirements of the various standards in the ISO9000 family of quality management system standards.
2. Apply the process approach to any activity.
3. Promote the quality management principles throughout the organisation.

4. Plan and conduct audits.
5. Indentify opportunities for an integrated approach to various management system standards.

The aim of this subject is for the student to have developed a good understanding of the nature of accounting for decision making and an ability to interpret such information and apply it to particular problems and situations within an organisation.

1. Describe the nature and purpose of management accounting.
2. Apply the main principles of management accounting for budgeting, planning, controlling and short term decision making.
3. Identify and apply the main techniques used in the appraisal of capital expenditure decisions and interpret the results.
4. Discuss the importance of good working capital management.
5. Be able to distinguish between and apply job costing and process costing approaches in relevant situations

This module aims to further develop the learner's interpersonal communication and managerial skills in the context of professional work practice. Learners will participate in reflective activities that will facilitate the development and practice of professional business skills.

1. Identify communication strategies that illustrate personal effectiveness.
2. Apply creative and critical thinking in the context of change management.
3. Demonstrate effective facilitation skills in a team environment.
4. Relate an ability to monitor and manage information to personal development.
5. Appreciate the importance of ethical standards in a professional context.

This module aims to provide learners with the statistical tools associated with the six sigma DMAIC philosophy specifically in the areas of Measure, Improve and control consistent with the ASQ and Quality America Green Belt Body of Knowledge. The student will be able to perform basic statistical analysis, develop and plots control charts, determine process and measurement capability. Minitab statistical software will be used to demonstrate and apply these statistical techniques.

1. Perform basic probability calculations by applying the probability rules and concepts
2. Describe and interpret the common probability distributions
3. Calculate, analyse and interpret measurement systems
4. Perform process capability and process perfromance analysis and interpret the results.
5. Perform exploratory data analysis using multi-vari charts, correlation and simple regression
6. Perform basic hypothesis testing eg. Hypothesis testing of means
7. Perform one way analysis of variance
8. Describe the experimental design terms and process
9. Develop control charts for variable and attribute data and interpret the results
10. Develop control charts with Minitab
11. Use the six sigma tools to implement control and monitoring systems

This module aims to give the student the necessary skills to apply Lean tools and techniques in a workplace environment . The history and developmnent Lean and the Lean Philosophy is introduced. The Lean Principles and Lean Transformation Frameworks are identified.. The tools and techniques such as value stream mapping, standardisation of work, error proofing, visual signals and pull systems used to identify and eliminate waste (non-value added activities) through the entire process.

1. Describe the benefits of applying \”Lean Management\” techniques in a manufacturing or service environment
2. Identify the forms of waste in manufacturing and servcie processes

3. Describe a Lean Transformation Framework
4. Implement a Lean 5S program
5. Construct a Current and Future Value Stream map with associated material and information flows
6. Describe the principles underlying the Theory of Constraints (TOC)
7. Implement a Lean Visualisation Program

The project aims to provide students with the opportunity to apply and integrate the skills and knowledge they have gained on the programme.

For students in employment, the project should address a substantive issue in the workplace. The project will test the student’s ability to define a real-life problem of concern to the organisation, design a strategy for addressing the problem, gather data, formulate and evaluate options and make recommendations. The project must follow the DMAIC problem-solving methodology using Lean and/or Six Sigma tools.

For students not in employment and unable to complete a work-based project, then a simulated Lean Six Sigma project option may be undertaken. This will consist of reviewing six sigma case studies, analysing the data and using the appropriate Six Sigma tools and Minitab statistical software to identify the solutions to the problem.

A mentor will be assigned to each project, which may be individual or in some cases group projects. The mentor will act as a guide in agreeing the relevance, and scope of the project and monitor the progress on a regular basis. There will be regular contact between the student and their mentor as the project progresses throughout the semester. Updates will be sent to the mentor on an agreed basis.

1. Identify a problem which needs to be addressed of importance to the organisation.
2. Utilise an appropriate structured approach to manage the project with realistic, interim and overall project objectives.
3. Identify and use the appropriate Lean Six Sigma tools to address the problem and implement the required solution(s).

4. Present project results with Executive Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations and justify the approach that was taken and the results achieved.

Six Sigma 1 ‑ Introduction to Lean Sigma quality aims to provide learners with an understanding of the tools and techniques of quality that are used in the attainment of a six-sigma quality environment. The principal goal of Six Sigma is to reduce variation in the process and improve quality. Through practical examples and exercises, learners will become proficient in the use of the basic problem-solving techniques used to monitor and control processes. The topics include: the Six Sigma DMAIC problem-solving process, Lean principles, FMEA's and risk management, the seven traditional quality tools, surveys, descriptive statistics and an introduction to inferential statistics. The module now includes lectures on Minitab – the industry-leading Six Sigma statistical software.

This module is also designed to meet the requirements of the Six Sigma Yellow belt award. This module aligns with the internationally recognised Six Sigma Green Belt body of knowledge from the American Society for Quality (ASQ) and also from Quality America.

As this is an online course, the majority of students are working in industry.

1. Describe why organisations use Six Sigma andthe Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) and DMAIC improvement methodology.
2. Define and describe Lean concepts and tools
3. Define, select and use the seven quality tools for problems solving, prioritising problems and improving processes. eg. Cause & Effect, Scatter Plots and Pareto charts.
4. Define, select and use the seven (new) management and planning tools. eg. Affinity diagrams, matrix diagrams and tree diagrams
5. Generate FMEAs and understand how they are used in risk management.

6. Calculate process performance metrics such as DPU, FTY, DPMO and Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ).
7. Collect and summarise data using surveys, descriptive and inferential statistics and graphical methods.

This module will give students a foundation in occupational safety and health and highlight the links between environmental issues and health and safety in the workplace.

1. Identify a variety of hazards in the workplace and apply appropriate control measures

2. Outline the parameters used for Occupational Safety andHealth monitoring in Ireland

3. ExamineOccupational Safety and Healthlegislation in Ireland andidentify the roles of the various stakeholders involved including employers and employees

4. Communicate the need for effective management of Occupational Safety andHealth issuesin the workplace

5. Examine the links between environmental issuesandoccupational safety andhealthissues in the workplace.