Today quality is defined simply as customer satisfaction. Every private and public business, whether for profit or non-profit, is finding it necessary to make quality an integral part of its business strategy to maintain or increase their market share of customers. The implementation of ISO-9000, an international quality specification, or TS 16949, a similar automotive specification, is now required to compete in the global and domestic markets. The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and many new state and local quality awards have prompted businesses of all types to make quality a major part of their business strategy. There is an unprecedented demand for quality professionals in every human endeavor.

Areas of study include: quality planning, improvement and control; team building and employee motivation; statistical processes control and experimental design; ISO quality management systems; auditing; lean manufacturing and Six Sigma improvement methods; and materials testing and measurement. Emphasis is placed on real world situations in the product and service industries.

Additional Resources

• American Society for Quality (ASQ) West Central Ohio Section
• ASQ National
• Lean Manufacturing Knowledge Center
• i Six Sigma
• Juran Institute

The IT/ET Division fosters the professional and intellectual growth of students by offering contemporary technical curricula taught by qualified faculty who provide a supportive environment intended to develop critical thinking, an appreciation of global diversity and the capacity for life-long learning. The IT/ET Division seeks to be the premier technology educator in West Central Ohio.

Quality engineers work in a variety of industries. And although their work is often industry-specific, quality control and improvement techniques are applicable to all businesses. As a quality engineer you could work in the following industries: oil, textiles, energy, foods and beverages, chemicals, electronics or pharmaceuticals.

Rhodes State College has gained accreditation from The Higher Learning Commission, a commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504, (312) 263-0456 or www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org. The majority of Rhodes State’s programs have received accreditation from professional associations (see specific program information under “Accreditation” tab on other program pages).

Candidates for the Associate of Applied Science Degree must meet all curriculum requirements as outlined in the curriculum models with a GPA of at least 2.00 and a minimum of 90 credit hours to a maximum of 110 credit hours completed in the program area. Credits transferred from other institutions will be subject to evaluation on a course-by-course basis. In some instances, students who have been absent from the College for more than one regular quarter (excluding summer) may have technical credits which will be re-evaluated on an individual basis. Each program is designed with required technical courses, in which, students must maintain a 2.00 average or better to progress to graduation. To obtain divisional certificates, students must earn a grade of “C” or better on all listed courses or receive authorization from program chair and division dean.