B0507 - Quality Control and Certification for Process and Product Reliability T

Learning outcomes

Acquire the knowledge and tools necessary for the measurement, control, and quality assurance of industrial production processes and services. Develop the ability to collect, analyze, and interpret measurement data, and to generate quality indicators for performance monitoring and continuous improvement. Gain an understanding of the main regulations, standards, and methodologies for the certification of products, processes, and management systems, with particular emphasis on the principles of continuous improvement, risk management, and reliability, in order to support innovation and enhance the competitiveness of organizations.

Course contents

Students are expected to have a fundamental background in algebra, mathematical analysis, and physics, together with the ability to apply these concepts to technical and scientific problem-solving. These competencies are normally acquired by successfully completing the first-year courses of the degree programme.

Lectures and teaching activities will be conducted in Italian; therefore, an adequate command of the Italian language is required to participate effectively in the course and to make full use of the teaching materials provided. To support learning, references to international textbooks and additional resources in English, particularly concerning international standards, technical regulations, and advanced topics, may also be provided.

 

 

The course covers the following topics:

1 General concepts

• Historical notes.

2 Reliability

Concept of probability, Statistics,

• Measurements

• Reliability, Availability, MTTF, MTBF, MTTR

• Hazard function

• Mission function

• Degradation models reliability

2 Reliability analysis techniques

• FMEA, FMECA, FTA, ETA, RBD, HAZOP, Markov chain

• Life tests

• Weibull and exponential distribution

• Military Handbook (HDBK-217)

3 Techniques to increase Reliability

• Redundancy

• Maintenance

• Preconditioning

4 Complex system analysis

• Inspection method

• Event method

• Minimal cut method

5 Conformity

• Measurement conformity

• Statistical process control

• Sampling plans

• Quality control charts

6 Certification

• Standardization 

• Certification: quality marks and CE marking
• Accreditation in the context of the European market
• Management systems and integrated management systems
• Circular economy
• Innovation and business networks
• ISO 9001 standard
• Risk analysis
  

Seminar: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

In collaboration with the course tutor: Dr. Virginia Negri

As part of the course, an introductory seminar on Artificial Intelligence (AI) is included. The seminar provides an overview of the fundamental concepts of AI, from the origins of the discipline to the main technologies currently in use. It introduces the basic principles of Machine Learning and artificial neural networks and presents an overview of the main applications of AI, with particular emphasis on engineering and industrial contexts. Special attention is given to the role of AI in supporting quality management, reliability engineering, predictive maintenance, and innovation.

 

Advanced Seminar: Standardization and Management Systems

The course includes an advanced seminar led by Oliviero Casale, subject expert and General Manager of Uniprofessioni, focusing on technical standardization.

The seminar will cover ISO management system standards based on the Harmonized Structure (HS), with particular emphasis on integrated management systems for innovation and artificial intelligence, the principles of the circular economy, and the concepts of systemic antifragility.

Readings/Bibliography

• Lecture notes provided by the instructor, available online for students enrolled in the course through Virtuale – University of Bologna e-learning platform [https://virtuale.unibo.it?utm_source=chatgpt.com] .
  The lecture notes constitute the primary resource for exam preparation and should be considered the main reference material for the course.

• Zanini, Elementi di Affidabilità. Esculapio.
  Recommended as a reference text for the fundamental concepts of reliability engineering.

• Douglas C. Montgomery, Statistical Quality Control. McGraw-Hill.
  Recommended for the study of statistical methods and techniques applied to quality control and process improvement.

Teaching methods

Lectures and classroom exercises, during which the course topics are thoroughly covered and the practical application of the theoretical concepts is encouraged through in-depth analysis and problem-solving activities.

Assessment methods

Assessment Methods

Learning assessment is carried out through a final examination aimed at verifying the achievement of the knowledge and skills defined by the course.

The exam is written, takes place in person, and lasts 1 hour. Notes, books, electronic devices, and any other supporting materials are not allowed. A calculator may be used during the exam. 

The test may include multiple-choice, short-answer, and open-ended questions, in order to assess both theoretical understanding and the ability to apply course contents in a balanced way.

The final grade is expressed on a 30-point scale (18/30 – 30/30) and depends on the completeness, correctness, and clarity of the answers. Results are published on AlmaEsami.

Course Structure

The course “Quality Control and Certification for Process and Product Reliability T ” is worth 9 ECTS credits; 

Exam Rules

• There are 6 exam sessions per academic year.
• Only students who have officially included the course in their study plan are eligible to sit the exam.
• The exam is held in person and lasts 1 hour.
• The written test may include multiple-choice, short-answer, and open-ended questions.
• Exam registration: Students can register by using the registration procedure available on AlmaEsami.

Students who do not wish to accept the grade must notify the instructor by e-mail (from their institutional email address) within 24 hours of the publication of results on AlmaEsami. In the absence of such communication, the grade is considered automatically accepted and will be recorded. A rejection of the grade is permitted only once.

Additional Support

Students with DSA or Disabilities

Students with specific learning disorders (DSA) or temporary or permanent disabilities are advised to contact the relevant University of Bologna office in good time:
University of Bologna – Students with Disabilities and DSA [https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it] .

This office will propose possible accommodations for the students concerned. Any accommodations must be submitted for approval to the instructor at least 15 days in advance, who will evaluate their appropriateness also in relation to the learning outcomes of the course.

For any specific needs or requirements, students are invited to contact the instructor by e-mail in order to arrange the most appropriate support measures.

Erasmus Students

Students who intend to take this course at another university within the Erasmus programme must contact the instructor in advance to agree on the course equivalence and the recognition of the corresponding ECTS credits.

 

Working Students

Working students who are unable to take the examination on the scheduled date due to documented work commitments are requested to contact the instructor well in advance. The request must be supported by a statement from the employer certifying that the student is required to work on the examination date. Upon verification of the documentation, an alternative examination date may be arranged.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools during the assessment is strictly prohibited. Any use of AI in completing examination tasks constitutes a violation of academic integrity and may result in the application of the University's disciplinary regulations.

 

Teaching tools

Lectures aimed at throughout treatment of the course contents.Exercises aimed at deepening and applying the theoretical topics.

All teaching material and notes will be available online.

Office hours

See the website of Paola Rinaldi