IQTM an Overview

With the upcoming challenges of globalization and free market, those countries that have not yet placed an emphasis on quality awareness and culture, will not be able to earn their share in the international market. Countries which have once profitable and stable markets are now facing competitions due to globalization. Under these circumstances, it was very much prudent that industrial and service sector of economy in the country must tune themselves to maintain cutting and competitive edge to face the challenges of WTO. In order to provide trained manpower to the industrial and services sectors, the leadership of University of the Punjab, conceived a proactive idea to launch Quality Management courses.

It was the month of November 2001 when Lt. General (R) Arshad Mehmood, Vice-Chancellor, University of the Punjab assigned this task to Dr. Niaz Ahmad, Associate Professor of the faculty of Engineering & Technology to design and launch quality management courses at the University. After that series of meetings took place between Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Niaz Ahmad, Prof. M. Ihsan Malik (controller of examination) and Prof. Dr. Shafqat Nawaz (who was the Director of the Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology at that time) on situation analysis and structuring of programs.

Finally the designed courses were placed before the members of Board of Studies in December 2001 for their considerations. The members of the Board suggusted that these course contents may also be discussed with engineering projects consultant Dr. W M Butt and Prof. Dr. M N Romani. Dr. Niaz Ahmad then had series of meeting with Dr.W M Butt, Dr. M N Romani and Dr. Nasir Saeed Butt in their offices.  Suggestions given by members were incorporated and course contents were again placed before Board of Studies in the next meeting.

The members of the Board after a detailed discussion approved the curriculum unanimously and also agreed to establish Quality Management Division at the Institute of Chemical Engineering & Technology. Board of faculty and ultimately Vice-Chancellor approved Master, Post graduate Diploma, Certificate courses and short courses which were supposed to be offered at QMD, Punjab University.

Next year, Courses of Master Program were revised and placed before Board of Studies in February 2003. The members of the board unanimously approved the revised master program and also approved to launch PhD in Total Quality Management. Third batch of students under new nomenclature and structure was enrolled in June 2003.

Mr. Khurram Sheikh from Evening session and Ms Saima Saleem form Morning session secured first position in the first batch of M.Sc Quality Management and awarded Gold Medal by Quality Management Division in the first graduation ceremony, organized in May 2003.

Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad, Prof Dr Muhammad Arif Butt Dr Zia Ullah Chaudahry of Qarshi Foundation had a series of meeting in August and September 2003 to launch M.S Total Quality Management in Medicines at Quality Management Division.

Keeping in views the need of Industrial sector, IQTM designed a new 4 year degree program named B.Sc (Engg) Industrial Engineering & Management (old name B.S (Hons.) Industrial Management) and placed before the members of Board of Studies in 2004. The members highly appreciated the efforts Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad and his team and unanimously recommended the program to be placed before the Board of Faculty. The members of Board of Faculty approved this program on June 2004. This B.S. (Hons) Industrial Management program was reviewed in 2006 and faculty members of IQTM suggested changing the nomenclature of the program in to B.Sc (Engg.) Industrial Engineering and Management. Board of Studies and Board of Faculty approved the suggested program of B.Sc. (Engg.) in March 2006 & June 2006 respectively.

At present IQTM is providing education / raining to about 350 professionals every year who are contributing to the uplift of GNP and enhancement of quality and productivity in local industrial and service sectors. It is the high laver of commitment of IQTM officials that none of its graduate is unemployment to date.