Education & Training

Production, Quality, and Manufacturing (PQM) Course Descriptions

The following overview provides brief descriptions of the required courses for the PQM career track.

ACQ 101 Fundamentals of Systems Acquisition Management
This course provides a broad overview of the DoD systems acquisition process, covering all phases of acquisition. ACQ 101 introduces the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development Systems (JCIDS); Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) process; DoD 5000 series policy documents; and current issues in systems acquisition management. Designed for individuals who have little or no experience in DoD acquisition management, ACQ 101 has proven very useful to personnel in headquarters, program management, and functional or support offices.

PQM 101 Production, Quality, and Manufacturing Fundamentals
This is an entry-level course that emphasizes basic production, manufacturing, and quality assurance principles, policies, processes, and practices.  At the completion of the course, students will be able to understand the multifunctional roles performed by members of the Production, Quality, and Manufacturing (PQM) career field; and describe manufacturing and quality processes, scheduling and control techniques, and various quality and production surveillance activities.  The course is for industrial specialists, industrial engineers, quality assurance specialists, production officers, production specialists, contract administrators, and other acquisition personnel involved with or having duties in the areas of production, quality, or manufacturing. 

CLC 024 Basic Math Tutorial
This basic math tutorial is provided for CON 217 students as well as anyone interested in increasing their basic math skills.  Mathematics is a necessary and useful tool when determining price and cost reasonableness.  Several performance support tools have been developed to assist you with many of the calculations to accomplish your job; however, you may still need to perform your own calculations without the aid of a tool or calculator. (NOTE: Any reference to “CON 104” in the module should be replaced with “CON 217.” An update to the module will reflect this change.)

CLM 017 Risk Management
Risk is always a concern in the systems acquisition process of the Department of Defense.  The acquisition process itself is designed, to a large degree, to allow risk to be managed from conception to delivery of the system.  Although risk is inherent in any program, Risk Management ensures managers take measures to assess and handle risks.  This module focuses on tools and processes that can be used to manage risk on a defense system acquisition project.  8 CLPs

ACQ 201A Intermediate Systems Acquisition, Part A
ACQ 201A uses computer-based training to prepare mid-level acquisition professionals to work in integrated product teams by understanding systems acquisition principles and processes. Both ACQ 201A and ACQ 201B are required for DAWIA certification.

ACQ 201B Intermediate Systems Acquisition, Part B
ACQ 201B prepares mid-level acquisition professionals to work effectively in integrated product teams by understanding systems acquisition principles and processes. Both ACQ 201A and ACQ 201B are required for DAWIA certification.

PQM 201A Intermediate Production, Quality, and Manufacturing, Part A
This journeyman-level course exposes students to manufacturing and quality processes, production scheduling and control techniques, surveillance activities, and systems-level production and quality planning.  It provides an understanding of production, quality, and manufacturing processes and their relationships to systems engineering activities throughout the life cycle.  Course content includes the contracting aspects of the job; planning for manufacturing and quality; lean concepts; material control; and technical, ethical, and quality issues.  The course objectives include:  review integrated management plans for manufacturing and quality requirements;  understand the technical aspects of cost estimating, activity-based costing, and physical progress reviews; identify the concepts that apply to lean manufacturing, the Theory of Constraints, and other production management and material control techniques; and address issues related to quality audits, nonconforming material, and other quality topics.  This course is also useful for engineering personnel who provide pre- or post-award technical support in production, quality, or manufacturing.

PQM 201B Intermediate Production, Quality, and Manufacturing, Part B
This journeyman-level course requires students to apply the manufacturing and quality planning processes and techniques learned in PQM 201A.  Students work in integrated product teams to develop manufacturing and quality plans, apply lean techniques, use cost estimating techniques, and make progress payment recommendations based on completion of a physical progress review.  The course content includes the contracting aspects of the job; planning for manufacturing and quality; lean concepts; material control; and technical, ethical, and quality issues.  At the completion of the course, students should be able to apply production and quality requirements of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS); prepare and review integrated management plans for manufacturing and quality requirements; audit a supplier’s quality manual against a commercial quality standard; and apply the concepts of lean manufacturing, theory of constraints, and other production management tools.  This course is also for production, quality, or engineering personnel providing pre- or post-award technical support. 

CLE 003 Technical Reviews
This continuous learning module presents essential practical guidelines for integrating several different technical reviews into the systems engineering process and DoD acquisition life cycle based on best engineering practices. 3 CLPs

PQM 301 Advanced Production, Quality, and Manufacturing
This rigorous leadership course is structured around integrated production, quality, and manufacturing processes.  Students will learn and practice advanced production and quality approaches supporting DoD acquisition activities.  Key areas covered include problem-solving and decision-making issues relevant to successfully managing core technical areas.  At the completion of the course, students should be able to explain the role of manufacturing and quality assurance as part of the integrated DoD systems engineering process; implement modern distributed manufacturing management practices; fully understand the use of best manufacturing practices such as supply chain management, e-manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma, and Theory of Constraints, in manufacturing and transactional environments; apply basic design of experiments, modeling and simulation, quality function deployment, statistical process control, six sigma, design-build principles, and risk management techniques; and describe the use of DoD e-commerce policy and information technology to leverage the integrated digital environment to support technical and business operations.  The course is designed for senior military and civilian personnel as well as defense industry equivalents who are assigned to DoD production, manufacturing, or quality positions or performing duties in related areas.