autumn 2025
INE-3600 Quality Management and Improvement - 5 ECTS
Admission requirements
Bachelor degree in Engineering program in mechanical, electrical power, electronics, mechatronics, material science, industrial engineering, process engineering or other equivalent majors.
In addition, the following requirements must be met:
-minimum 25 ECTS in mathematics (equivalent to Mathematical Methods 1, 2 og 3), 5 ECTS in statistics and 7,5 ECTS in physics on a higher level is required.
Application code: 9371
Course content
Six sigma and number of defects per million are today's standard for ultimate customer satisfaction and maximum profitability. Knowing that customer satisfaction is the number one priority on any organization's list, the success of any company depends on quality and competitive product pricing. Today the globalized market allows no space for error. Thus, Six Sigma is necessary for all organizations. The same is true today for human involvement, that could be achieved through Lean. The theory of Lean Six Sigma demonstrates the bottom line and customer satisfaction improvement.
Unlike other programs that concentrate on quality only, Lean Six Sigma focuses on customer satisfaction and the bottom line. This also means the highest quality: As defects drop to 3.4 per million, quality improves dramatically.
The course on Quality management and Improvement explains the Lean Six Sigma concepts, the essential theory and analysis from the engineering point of view in three different parts. Part I: Statistical Theory and Concepts; Part II: Six Sigma Engineering and Implementation; and Part III: Case Studies. Throughout the course numerous examples have been cited. All manufacturers may largely benefit. Consequently, any organization may engineer their Six Sigma program using this course, as a fundament.
- Introduction to Lean Six Sigma
- Statistical Theory of Lean Six Sigma Strategies
- Mathematical Concepts of Lean Six Sigma Engineering Strategies
- Six Sigma Continuous Improvement
- Design for Six Sigma: Roadmap for Successful Corporate Goals
- Design for Lean/Kaizen Six Sigma
- Roles and Responsibilities to Lean Six Sigma Philosophy and Strategy
- Road Map to Lean Six Sigma Continuous Improvement Engineering Strategies
- Six Sigma Green Belt Level Case Studies
Objectives of the course
After passing the course, students will have the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge and understanding:
Students will be able to
- Review Lean Six Sigma concepts and background (history).
- Demonstrate normal distribution, process capability estimation of 1 sigma through Six Sigma.
- Explain essentials of mathematical concepts in Lean Six Sigma engineering strategies, as well as review standard normal distribution and normality tests.
- Understand the essentials of Six Sigma continuous improvement principles and training models.
- Understand the essentials of design for Six Sigma principles, tools, and techniques.
- Understand the essentials of design for Lean Six Sigma and training models.
- Understand the roles and responsibilities to Six Sigma philosophy and Six Sigma infrastructure.
- Understand the road map to Lean Six Sigma continuous improvement engineering strategies.
Skills:
Students will be able to
- Conduct case studies with complete Six Sigma applications in industrial engineering for Green Belts.
- The students will obtain a Six Sigma green belt certificate after passing the course.
Teaching methods
Prerecorded video lectures, classroom lectures and exercises spread over two weeks. 25 - 28 lecture hours, 20 hours of exercises, plus self-studies. Total workload is estimated to about 125 hours full time work.
All course material is available from the online course portal.
Software to be used is available as ÐÒÔË´óתÅÌ student: Spreadsheet such as Microsoft Excel, Simul8 process simulation (student license for free), Matlab and/or Python for machine learning.
Information to incoming exchange students
This course is open for inbound exchange student who meets the admission requirements. Please see the Admission requirements "section".
Master Level
Do you have questions about this module? Please check the following website to contact the course coordinator for exchange students at the faculty:
Schedule
More info about the coursework requirements
It is prepared for a course project according to Six Sigma methodology. The students might choose from two alternative options; 1. digital individual project, or 2. classroom team project.
1. Digital individual project
The project follows individual exercises that are distributed digitally to each student. Six Sigma methodology is applied on an industrial case study through the exercises, and softwares for spreadsheeting, process mapping, programming and similar will be used through the project.
The results from the project have to be documented in a written report from each student and presented in class by the end of the course. Submission deadlines will be specified at start of the course.
There will not be given a second chance to pass the project exercises during the course.
2. Classroom team project
The project follows a team exercise through some of the course days in classroom. Attendance at these exercises is mandatory, as well as preparation to the exercises. Six Sigma methodology is applied on an industrial case study through the exercises
The results from the project have to be documented in a written report from each team and presented in class by the end of the course. The student's attendance during the exercises has to be approved by the teacher in order to qualify for the final exam. Submission deadlines will be specified at start of the course.
There will not be given a second chance to pass the project exercises during the course.
- About the course
- Campus: Nettstudium | Narvik | Annet |
- ECTS: 5
- Course code: INE-3600
- Responsible unit
- Institutt for industriell teknologi
- Tidligere år og semester for dette emnet