About this course: In this course you will focus on process improvement. You will learn how to set organizational priorities for continuous process improvement, how to execute process improvement projects, and how to sustain the initiative for continuous improvements. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to: • Understand the roles of process improvement • Relate underlying principles to frameworks and techniques used for process improvement • Synthesize information to make decisions for organizational initiatives and process improvement • Apply analytical techniques for tactical decisions in a process improvement project This course is part of the iMBA offered by the University of Illinois, a flexible, fully-accredited online MBA at an incredibly competitive price. For more information, please see the Resource page in this course and onlinemba.illinois.edu.
Created by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Taught by: Gopesh Anand, Associate Professor of Business Administration
Department of Business Administration, College of Business
| Basic Info | Course 4 of 7 in the Value Chain Management Specialization |
| Commitment | 4 weeks of study, 6-8 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Course Overview
In this module, you will become familiar with the course, your instructor, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation also helps you obtain the technical skills required for the course.
2 videos, 5 readings, 1 practice quiz
- Video: Welcome to Process Improvement!
- Video: Meet Your Instructor
- Reading: Syllabus
- Reading: About this Course: Ratings and Reviews
- Reading: About the Discussion Forums
- Reading: Social Media
- Reading: Getting to Know Your Classmates
- Practice Quiz: Orientation Quiz
Module 1: Fundamentals of Continuous Improvement
Module 1 connects process improvement to organizational learning and lays the groundwork for putting together an organizational initiative for continuous improvement. It introduces you to the principles and methodologies of Lean and Six Sigma as two initiatives for continuous improvement of processes.
10 videos, 3 readings, 2 practice quizzes
- Reading: Module 1 Overview
- Reading: Module 1 Readings
- Video: Lesson Objectives
- Video: Organizational Learning
- Video: Elements of Continuous Improvement Initiatives
- Video: Lesson 1-1 Recap
- Practice Quiz: Lesson 1-1 Practice Quiz
- Video: Lesson Objectives
- Video: Origin of Lean
- Video: Philosophy of Lean
- Video: Origin of Six Sigma
- Video: Philosophy of Six Sigma
- Video: Lesson 1-2 Recap
- Practice Quiz: Lesson 1-2 Practice Quiz
- Peer Review: Module 1 Assignment 1 (optional ungraded)
- Reading: Module 1 Assignment 2 Solution
Graded: Module 1 Graded Quiz
Graded: Module 1 Assignment 2
WEEK 2
Module 2: Managing the Continuous Improvement Initiative
Module 2 presents the organizational infrastructure needed for managing Lean and Six Sigma process improvement initiatives and describes techniques for aligning business strategy with continuous improvement. In this module, you will also learn about value stream maps and project charters as techniques for getting started with process improvement projects.
11 videos, 3 readings, 2 practice quizzes
- Reading: Module 2 Overview
- Reading: Module 2 Readings
- Video: Lesson Objectives
- Video: Roles and Responsibilities
- Video: Strategy Deployment
- Video: Project Selection and Execution
- Video: Lesson Recap
- Practice Quiz: Lesson 2-1 Practice Quiz
- Video: Lesson Objectives
- Video: Starting a Lean Project
- Video: Value Stream Mapping Part 1
- Video: Value Stream Mapping Part 2
- Video: Starting a Six Sigma Project
- Video: Lesson Recap
- Practice Quiz: Lesson 2-2 Practice Quiz
- Reading: Module 2 Assignment Solution
Graded: Module 2 Graded Quiz
Graded: Module 2 Assignment
WEEK 3
Module 3: Root Cause Analysis
Module 3 focuses on methods to study cause-effect relationships for process improvement. In this module, you will learn about the importance of assessing quality of measurements, followed by ways to synthesize knowledge of team members and methods to analyze numerical data. This module includes an overview of the Standard Normal Distribution and descriptions of statistical process control, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple linear regression.
16 videos, 4 readings, 2 practice quizzes
- Reading: Module 3 Overview
- Reading: Module 3 Readings
- Video: Lesson Objectives
- Video: Data, and the Normal Distribution
- Video: Diagnosis of Measurements
- Video: Lesson Recap
- Practice Quiz: Lesson 3-1 Practice Quiz
- Video: Lesson Objectives
- Video: Statistical Process Control
- Video: Attribute Data Control Charts - Proportion Data
- Video: Attribute Data Control Charts - Count Data
- Video: Variable Data Control Charts
- Video: Process Capability
- Video: Lesson Recap
- Video: Lesson Objectives
- Video: Identifying Potential Causes
- Video: Cause Effect Analysis Using ANOVA
- Video: Cause Effect Analysis Using Regression
- Video: Lesson Recap
- Practice Quiz: Lesson 3-2 Practice Quiz
- Reading: Module 3 Assignment 1 Solution
- Reading: Module 3 Assignment 2 Solution
Graded: Module 3 Graded Quiz
Graded: Module 3 Assignment 1
Graded: Module 3 Assignment 2
WEEK 4
Module 4: Achieving and Sustaining Improvements
Module 4 introduces techniques for making and sustaining changes in processes and illustrates the implementation of Lean as a process improvement initiative in a financial services company. As a closing of this course, you will be presented with an overarching theoretical perspective of knowledge creation that explains the continuing cycles of process improvement.
10 videos, 2 readings, 3 practice quizzes
- Reading: Module 4 Overview
- Reading: Module 4 Readings
- Video: Lesson Objectives
- Video: Techniques
- Video: 5S
- Video: Confirming Process Improvements
- Video: Lesson 4-1 Recap
- Practice Quiz: Lesson 4-1 Practice Quiz
- Video: Lesson Objectives
- Video: Leadership for Continuous Improvement
- Video: Illustration of Lean Implementation
- Video: Cycles of Knowledge Creation
- Video: Lesson 4-2 Recap
- Practice Quiz: Lesson 4-2 Practice Quiz
- Practice Quiz: Module 4 Additional Practice Quiz
Course Conclusion
1 video
- Video: Course Recap
FAQs
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Coursework
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Creators
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a world leader in research, teaching and public engagement, distinguished by the breadth of its programs, broad academic excellence, and internationally renowned faculty and alumni. Illinois serves the world by creating knowledge, preparing students for lives of impact, and finding solutions to critical societal needs.
Pricing
| Audit | Purchase Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Not available | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Not available | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Not available | Available |
Ratings and Reviews
good for production area
Helpful coursework
I am extremely happy to have got this opportunity to enroll in this course. The instructor explains concepts very lucidly and for a someone who has no background in this area. I have enjoyed doing the practice quizes and the honor's assignments.
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A good course a must for process specialist.