Regulations for The Master of Quality Systems - MQS

Official rules and regulations for the Master of Quality Systems. These regulations are for the 2025 intake to this qualification.

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Qualification Regulations

Part I

These regulations are to be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates.

Part II

Admission

1. Admission to the Degree of Master of Quality Systems requires that the candidate will:

(a) meet the University admission requirements as specified; and

(b) shall have been awarded or qualified for a relevant Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with a minimum B grade average over the 300-level majoring courses plus two years’ relevant professional experience; or

(c) shall have been awarded or qualified for a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with a minimum B grade average over the 300-level majoring courses plus five years’ relevant professional experience; or

(d) shall have been awarded or qualified for a relevant Postgraduate Diploma or equivalent with a minimum B grade average plus two years’ relevant professional experience; or

(e) shall have been awarded or qualified for a relevant Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with a minimum A- grade average over the 300-level majoring courses plus two years’ relevant professional experience; or

(f) shall have been awarded or qualified for a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with a minimum A- grade average over the 300-level majoring courses plus five years’ relevant professional experience.

Qualification requirements

2. Candidates for the Degree of Master of Quality Systems shall follow a parts-based programme of study, which shall consist of courses totalling at least 180 credits, comprising:

(a) Part One and Part Two as defined by the Schedule to the Degree.

and including:

(b) courses selected from the Schedule to the Degree;

(c) any compulsory courses identified in the Schedule to the Degree;

(d) attending field trips, studios, workshops, tutorials, and laboratories as required.

3. Notwithstanding Regulation 2, candidates admitted under Regulation 1 (d) or 1 (e)  or 1(f) may apply for credit towards Part One of the qualification in accordance with the limits specified in the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations. The programme of study for such candidates must include 240.758.

Specialisations

4. The Master of Quality Systems is awarded without specialisation.

Student progression

5. For progression to Part Two, candidates must achieve at least a B- grade average over courses completed in Part One and at least a B grade for the methods course, 240.758.

6. In cases of sufficient merit, the Master of Quality Systems may be awarded with Merit or Distinction.

Completion requirements

7. The timeframes for completion as outlined in the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates will apply.

8. Candidates may be graduated when they meet the Admission, Qualification and Academic requirements within the prescribed timeframes; candidates who do not meet the requirements for graduation may, subject to the approval of Academic Board, be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Quality Systems should they meet the relevant Qualification requirements.

Unsatisfactory academic progress

9. The general Unsatisfactory Academic Progress regulations will apply.

Schedule for the Master of Quality Systems

Course planning key

Prerequisites
Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
Corequisites
Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
Restrictions
Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Key terms for course planning
Courses
Each qualification has its own specific set of courses. Some universities call these papers. You enrol in courses after you get accepted into Massey.
Course code
Each course is numbered using 6 digits. The fourth number shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).
Credits
Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.
Specialisations
Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.

Schedule A

Part One (Choose 120 credits from)

Compulsory courses (Choose 105 credits from)

Choose 105 credits from
Course code: 240756 Value Chain Management 15 credits

Value chains are explored through a supply chain operations management lens. Value chain networks are examined in the context of supply chain collaboration and coordination. The purpose is to provide students with the core principles of value creation and management, and to introduce them to supply chain analytical approaches to facilitate business decision making.

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Course code: 240758 Research Methods and Skills 30 credits

The scientific method will be explored through discussion of alternative research methodologies and the capabilities required to conduct academic research. The course has two interrelated goals; to develop postgraduate study skills and to prepare to undertake a quality or supply chain management research project. Students will develop the skills to synthesise literature, design research processes and structure a research report. During the course students will decide to focus on either a practical application or a more theoretical research project.

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Course code: 287735 Quality Improvement 15 credits

Concepts of and the major approaches to quality improvement. The full range of quality improvement methodologies, tools and techniques as well as team-based problem-solving methods.

Restrictions: 143785

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Course code: 287741 Quality System Development and Management 15 credits

All organisations are required to effectively manage the quality of their goods and services, and that of the processes and systems that produce or deliver them. This course introduces the key principles of quality systems and their control and management. This includes core definitions, key theories, relevant standards, documentation requirements, and associated tools, methods and principles for managing and controlling quality.

Restrictions: 287730

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Course code: 287745 Lean Six Sigma 30 credits

This course examines continuous organisational systems improvement using the philosophies, tools and techniques of lean six sigma. It covers core essential concepts such as value and waste; process variation; and performance measurement. The block courses utilise a range of practical games and activities that simulate: measurement studies and analysis; process and problem definition; and production or service delivery system improvement.

Restrictions: 287731

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Elective courses (Choose 15 credits from)

Choose 15 credits from
Course code: 141724 Food Quality Safety and Innovation 15 credits

This course will cover risk assessment and management techniques that can be applied to any sector of the food industry, important in the development of a new food product to ensure the development of safe foods of high quality and appropriate cost. The legal and commercial justification for ingredients, preservation, processing, packaging and distribution technologies will be taught.

Prerequisites: 280201

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Course code: 152771 Management in Organisations 15 credits

The application of modern management in business organisations.

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Course code: 158739 Data Mastery: Scripting, Databases and Data Privacy 15 credits

An introduction to the field of analytics, including the process of identifying an analytics problem in context, identifying sources and acquiring data, preparing data for analysis to address the problem. Emphasis is placed on developing programming skills relevant for data processing and data retrieval from databases. Special attention is given to privacy, security and ethical considerations surrounding data, and to communication of results.

Restrictions: 161750

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Course code: 161725 Statistical Quality Control 15 credits

Revision of statistical process control procedures, evaluation of control chart performance and statistical design of charts, control of high quality process, multivariate process control, new process capability indices, statistical intervals. Industrial experimentation topics, evolutionary operation, analysis of means (ANOM) etc. Revision of acceptance sampling, continuous and special purpose sampling plans. Use of statistical packages.

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Course code: 240753 Supply Chain Analytics 15 credits

Determining information required for management of the supply chain. Includes a systems dynamics view of production management, process improvement methodologies, supply chain measurements and analysis.

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Course code: 240759 Integrated Logistics 15 credits

Logistics is a foundation block within any successful business. Unless an organisation can manage and coordinate in an integrated manner the movement of materials, information and cash through its business, and those of partner organisations, it is unlikely to outperform its competitors.

Restrictions: 240752

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Course code: 287740 Innovation Management 15 credits

An advanced course of study of innovation management practices applied to product innovation, including new product strategy, portfolio management, organisational management and performance measurement and knowledge management. Investigation of current literature and industry practice, applied to companies of different sizes and types.

Prerequisites: 228311 or 228312 Restrictions: 287703

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Part Two (Choose 60 credits from)

Choose 60 credits from
Course code: 240887 Research Report 60 credits

An empirical supply chain management research investigation. During this course students will develop intellectual independence by conducting supply chain research. Supervision will be provided to guide students, however, the responsibility for framing and conducting the investigation will be the student’s alone. Students will develop the skills to articulate, analyse and evaluate their research findings.

Prerequisites: 240758 (B)

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Schedule B: Schedule for the Master of Quality Systems available under Transitional Provisions

Part One (Choose between 60 and 90 credits from)

Compulsory course (Choose 30 credits from)

Compulsory course selection (Choose between 15 and 30 credits from)

Choose between 15 and 30 credits from
Course code: 119729 Research Methods 15 credits

Research methods for students whose research focuses on the human-science interface and human applications of science. The course includes foundations of science, ethics, the scientific method, and systems approaches to problem-solving and research; selection of appropriate research methods, including survey methods, case studies, enterprise/project analysis, and modelling; analysis and presentation of research results and communication skills.

Restrictions: 119728, 162760, 162761, 162762

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Course code: 240758 Research Methods and Skills 30 credits

The scientific method will be explored through discussion of alternative research methodologies and the capabilities required to conduct academic research. The course has two interrelated goals; to develop postgraduate study skills and to prepare to undertake a quality or supply chain management research project. Students will develop the skills to synthesise literature, design research processes and structure a research report. During the course students will decide to focus on either a practical application or a more theoretical research project.

View full course details

Subject courses

Course code: 287735 Quality Improvement 15 credits

Concepts of and the major approaches to quality improvement. The full range of quality improvement methodologies, tools and techniques as well as team-based problem-solving methods.

Restrictions: 143785

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Part Two (Choose between 90 and 120 credits from)

Option A (Choose 120 credits from)

Option B (Choose 90 credits from)

Choose 90 credits from
Course code: 287886 Thesis 90 Credit Part 1 45 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a thesis.

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Course code: 287887 Thesis 90 Credit Part 2 45 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a thesis.

Corequisites: 287886

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Course code: 287888 Thesis 90 credits

A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a thesis.

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