BN4420 Quality and Environmental Management Systems Assessment Brief | UCLan

BN4420 Assessment:

This Assessment Pack consists of a detailed assignment brief, guidance on what you need to prepare, and information on how class sessions support your ability to complete successfully. You’ll also find information on this page to guide you on how, where, and when to submit. If you need additional support, please make a note of the services detailed in this document. 

When how and where to submit:

• Assessment Release Date and Time: Wednesday 24th of January
• Assessment Deadline Date and Time: Friday 19th of April 2024 by 12.00hrs.
• Please note that this is the final time you can submit – not the time to submit. You should aim to submit your assignment in advance of the deadline.
• This assignment is to be submitted via Turn-It-In not later than the date specified above (Friday 19th of April 2024 by 12.00hrs). 
  Feedback//feed forward will be provided by: Friday 10th of May 2024.

Mitigating Circumstance: If you have any valid mitigating circumstances that mean you cannot meet an assessment submission deadline and you wish to request an extension, you will need to apply online, via MyUCLan with your evidence prior to the deadline. Further information on Mitigating Circumstances via this link.

Pass grades: in order to pass this assignment, you need to obtain a minimum mark of 50%. You should check that you fully understand the assessment criteria for the module as a whole since there may well be other assessable components which you are required to pass. 

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is regarded by the University as a very serious offence. Please ensure that you read the relevant academic regulations concerning what constitutes plagiarism and ensure that what you submit as an individual or as a group is clearly all your own work and that the source of any information or material is fully identified and properly acknowledged/referenced

I wish you all success in completing your assignment. Please read this guidance carefully, and any questions, please discuss with your Module Leader. 

Additional Support available: 

All links are available through the online Student Hub

1. Optional: Academic support for this assessment will be provided by contacting the module tutor - Kelechi Babatunde via kbbabatunde1@uclan.ac.uk 
2. Our Library resources link can be found in the library area of the Student Hub or via your subject librarian at  nmarshall7@uclan.ac.uk. 
3. Support with your academic skills development (academic writing, critical thinking and referencing) is available through WISER on the Study Skills section of the Student Hub.
4. For help with Turnitin, see Blackboard and Turnitin Support on the Student Hub 
5. If you have a disability, specific learning difficulty, long-term health, or mental health condition, and not yet advised us, or would like to review your support, Inclusive Support can assist with reasonable adjustments and support. To find out more, you can visit the Inclusive Support page of the Student Hub.
6. For mental health and wellbeing support, please complete our online referral form, or email wellbeing@uclan.ac.uk. You can also call 01772 893020, attend a drop-in, or visit our UCLan Wellbeing Service  Student Hub pages for more information.
7. For any other support query, please contact Student Support via studentsupport@uclan.ac.uk. 
8. For consideration of Academic Integrity, please refer to detailed guidelines in our policy document . All assessed work should be genuinely your own work, and all resources fully cited.  

Preparing for your assignment.

• There are written and video materials on Blackboard to assist you write the report. Materials on TQM, Continuous Improvement, Lean Systems & Six Sigma and Quality Management Systems to this assignment.   You could also draw from materials from the Reading List on Blackboard. 
• The module tutor is also available to discuss the assignment when you book an appointment through Microsoft Teams.
• Refer to the Module Information Pack to understand the Learning Outcomes and Marking Criteria.
• This is a 2000-word assignment. This is subject to a + or – 10% compensation. In other words, if the assessment length is 2000 words, submissions between 1800 and 2200 words would be acceptable. You will need to be careful in the way you use the word count to support key arguments and facts in your report. Where possible, supplement information with material contained in the appendices. You must use the Harvard referencing style in both in-text citations and the reference list.
• It is important for you to use relevant literature to support your arguments and facts.
• The assignment must be submitted through Turnitin that would allow the module tutor to check for improper use of sources or potential plagiarism by scanning through numerous databases.
• You need to complete and attach the Coursework Cover Sheet as first page of your submission. This can be found on Blackboard.

Presenting coursework for assessment

Your written assignments must be presented in the following format:

• It must be word-processed in 12-point Arial font. Line spacing should be 1,5 lines
• It must be black text on a white background
• All pages must be numbered   
• Margins must be as follows: Top: 2.54 cm, Bottom: 2.54 cm, Left: 2.54 cm, Right: 2.54 cm
• It should not contain your name(s)
• The number of words (excluding the front cover, title page, contents page, executive summary, reference list, bibliography or appendices) should be stated at the end of the submission.
• The following file-naming convention should be used for the submission of the BN4420 assignment. [Module code] [Assignment title] [Student number] i.e. [BN4420] [Quality Management] [2894573]

BN4420 THE BRIEF/INSTRUCTIONS

Choose an industry and a specific product. 

Postpand Ltd manufactures the specific, named product you have chosen and has dominated the market for the past 20 years in the UK for the product. Over the past few years however, Postpand Ltd has seen a steady fall in its market share due to several reasons including the COVID19 pandemic. The Board of Directors fears this trend will eventually cost the company its leading market position and has decided to adopt total quality management (TQM) to improve its performance and maintain its position. 

You have been appointed the TQM consultant for Postpand Ltd to lead its adoption and implementation of TQM. 

Task

Prepare a report for the Board of Directors covering the following:

1.The concept, techniques, and benefits of TQM and how TQM can be implemented to improve Postpand’s performance. (20 marks).

2.The requirements of the ISO 9001:2015 standard and provide a discussion how the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 can be applied as an appropriate quality management system (QMS) for Postpand Ltd (30 marks). 

3.The concepts and techniques of lean production (LP) and provide a discussion how the concepts and techniques of LP can be applied to improve the performance of Postpand’s Ltd. (30 marks). 

4.An evaluation of the need for independent third-party certification to the ISO 9001:2015 standard and the processes for Postpand Ltd to become certified. (20 marks)

BN4420 Marking Criteria

Learning Outcomes Assessed (from the Module Descriptor, available on Blackboard):

• LO1 Evaluate the use of a wide range of quality and environmental practices and their application in the workplace.
• LO2 Plan, design and propose amendments where required to quality and environmental management systems and processes.
• LO3 Apply the relevant Acts, Regulations and best practice to design and implementation phases, with regard to the duties and responsibilities placed on respective parties.
• LO4 Analyse working situations, develop and apply strategies which ensure effective management of international codes of practice and legislation.

Feedback Guidance:

Reflecting on Feedback: how to improve.
From the feedback you receive, you should understand:

• The grade you achieved.
• The best features of your work.
• Areas you may not have fully understood.
• Areas you are doing well but could develop your understanding. 
• What you can do to improve in the future - feedforward.

Use the WISER: Academic Skills Development service. WISER can review feedback and help you understand your feedback. You can also use the WISER Feedback Glossary

Next Steps:

• List the steps have you taken to respond to previous feedback.
• Summarize your achievements 
• Evaluate where you need to improve here (keep handy for future work)