Deck 4: Process Improvement: Minimizing Variation Through Six Sigma

Question 1

Which of the following is FALSE about Quality Function Deployment (QFD)?

A)It is a powerful tool to translate customer requirements into process capabilities
B)It utilizes a series of tables to maintain links between the data collected and the final process activities
C)Because of their shape,the tables are often referred to as "houses of quality"
D)Technical requirements are the basic input for the process deployment matrix

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Six Sigma (DMAIC)is best applied when:

A)The process is fundamentally flawed
B)The process is brand new
C)There is too much variation in the process
D)There is too much waste in the process

Answer 2

C

Question 3

One aspect that differentiates Six Sigma from other earlier process improvement programs including total quality management and reengineering is that with Six Sigma:

A)Quality can realistically be improved
B)Specific roles and titles have been identified and generally accepted
C)It is easier to alter the corporate culture of a firm
D)Control charts are used exhaustively

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Process capability analysis does NOT depend on:

A)Location of the process mean
B)Natural variability inherent in the process.
C)Business product design
D)Stability of the process

Question 5

Which term compares an organization's processes with the best practices to be found in its industry or others?

A)Benchmark
B)Performance
C)Value proposition
D)Bias

Question 6

Lean Sigma is a combination of Six Sigma and Lean tools appropriate when both too much variation and waste exist in a process.

Question 7

Choose a common problem from the measure phase.

A)Calculation of a baseline to evaluate benefits of potential improvements
B)The process mean can shift as much as 1.5 standard deviations
C)Performance metrics based on the availability of data
D)About 3.4 defects per million opportunities (DPMO)may occur easily in complex operations

Question 8

DMAIC stands for:

A)Define,Measure,Analyze,Implement,Control
B)Define,Maintain,Assure,Implement,Control
C)Define,Measure,Analyze,Improve,Control
D)Design,Maintain,Analyze,Improve,Control

Question 9

The relationship between the natural variation in the production system and the product's design specifications can be quantified using:

A)Six sigma
B)Control charts
C)A process capability index
D)Fishbone diagrams

Question 10

The following are shortcomings associated with analyzing problems "one factor at a time" (also known as OFAT and 1FAT)EXCEPT:

A)In real life it is almost impossible to hold all other factors constant
B)Experimental designs specify levels for each factor to be included
C)It is very hard to account for interactions or joint variation between factors
D)Though graphing results is helpful to observe different factors,it is hard to graph variation of more than two or three variables at the time

Question 11

A literal interpretation of six-sigma is:

A)4)3 defects per million opportunities (DPMO)
B)3)4 defects per billion opportunities (DPBO)
C)3)4 defects per million opportunities (DPMO)
D)3)1 defects per million opportunities (DPMO)

Question 12

Quality Function Deployment (QFD)starts by using "voice of the customer" (VOC)data in which of the following matrices?

A)Process planning
B)Process deployment
C)Output planning
D)Output specification

Question 13

Business Process Design (BPD)is also adequately named the following EXCEPT:

A)Reengineering
B)Business process innovation
C)Business process engineering
D)Downsizing or restructuring

Question 14

Six Sigma is better applied on manufacturing than service operations.

Question 15

Which of the following was identified by Leigh Thompson as one of several threats to team creativity?

A)Idea generation through brainstorming
B)Downward norm setting
C)Individual blocking
D)"Window Dressing"

Question 16

Which of the following tools and methodologies is NOT used in the Measure Phase of Six Sigma?

A)Design of experiments (DOE)
B)Pareto Analysis
C)Process Maps
D)Rolled throughput yield (RTY)

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a part of a House of Quality display?

A)Importance ratings
B)Target values
C)Importance weights
D)Interrelationships between Hows and Whens

Question 18

Six Sigma is better applied on for-profit than in nonprofit organizations.

Question 19

Six Sigma is among the most timely topics in business today because of the following,EXCEPT:

A)It was developed by Motorola
B)High profile organizations report strong benefits from using it
C)It can be applied in organizations that produce a tangible output or an intangible service
D)Nonprofit organizations may apply it as well as for profit companies

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT an original component of reengineering?

A)A radical change in the way work is performed
B)Process-centered reorganization of activities
C)An emphasis in getting rid of unnecessary employees
D)A dramatic improvement in performance

Question 21

The goal of the Analyze Phase is to identify key cause and effect relationships that can be leveraged to improve the overall performance of the process.

Question 22

An expectation of Business Process Design is that the improvements in performance will be at a minimum incremental.

Question 23

Benchmarking is another name for QFD (Quality Function Deployment).

Question 24

In order to claim status as a Six Sigma Black Belt,it has become customary for individuals to undergo a process of ________.

Question 25

A green belt has a broad knowledge of the six sigma toolkit,but not nearly as much in the tools as Yellow belts,Black belts and Master Black Belts.

Question 26

Developing and evaluating solutions to reduce the gap between desired process performance and current performance is the final step in the six sigma DMAIC approach for process improvement.

Question 27

Design of Experiments (DOE)includes Taguchi methods.

Question 28

Defects per million opportunities (DPMO)and Process Sigma are the most important tools for the Measure Phase of Six Sigma.

Question 29

A popular approach to design experiments,based upon the notion that most of the quality is determined at the design stage is named after Japanese guru ______ ________.

Question 30

The Six Sigma approach originated at Motorola.

Question 31

Technology usage is not as important as reorganization in Business Process Design.

Question 32

The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award was first awarded to Motorola in 1988.