Deck 7: Six Sigma and Lean Management

Question 1

Six Sigma requires an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the behavior of a work process.

Answer 1

True
Six sigma requires a comprehensive understanding of the behavior of a process and a performance management mindset. Behavior refers to the variability of the data, and the relationships between inputs and outputs.

Question 2

Central elements of the Lean process are reducing the supplies used in a process and the costs of those supplies.

Answer 2

False
Central to lean processes are the concepts of speed and reducing cycle times.

Question 3

Although Lean and Six Sigma are different from each other, combining their use in process improvement can be useful.

Answer 3

True
The Six Sigma methodology is organized around DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) which is linear and structured. Lean uses more of a PDSA (plan, do, study, act) approach which is somewhat less linear. Lean has a greater focus on reducing root causes of errors and waste. Some organizations have created a combined "Lean Six Sigma" to utilize the best of both methodologies.

Question 4

Statistical analysis is more likely to be used in Six Sigma.

Question 5

Lean has a primary focus in evaluating process to identify waste and also to note value-added activities.

Question 6

Lean uses tools like the cause and effect diagram or the fishbone diagram to evaluate process activities.

Question 7

Six Sigma uses which of the following metrics?

A) Variations per million outputs
B) Procedure time above target
C) Defects per million opportunities
D) Customer satisfaction per output

Question 8

Which of the following describes the Six Sigma methodology?

A) Plan, do, study, act
B) Define, measure, analyze, improve, control
C) Plan, define, systematize, analyze
D) Describe, measure, act, inventory, capitalize

Question 9

Which of the following defines the goal of Lean?

A) Elimination of defects
B) Reduction of process variability
C) Determine conformance with customer requirements
D) Remove non-value-added activities

Question 10

Which of the following are common elements in both Lean and Kaizen?

A) Increase variation to capture best resource mix in a process
B) Make greater use of human skills by forging more human thought and intervention
C) Reduce variation
D) Statistically analyze the error rate in a process

Question 11

What rate of defects in a process equates to Six Sigma?

A) Zero defects
B) 3.4 defects per million
C) 233 defects per million
D) 6,210 defects per million

Question 12

Which of the following is a way of displaying the distribution of data through five key numbers (the minimum, maximum, upper and lower quartiles, and median)?

A) Frequency distribution
B) Regression line
C) Histogram
D) Box plot

Question 13

List and explain the four components of a process model.

Question 14

Describe Value Mapping and its use in Lean.

Question 15

What is the Process Capability Index, how is it calculated, and is it used in Six Sigma or Lean?