Question 1

Compared to lean tools,Six Sigma tools are more intuitive and easier to apply by anybody in the workplace

Accepted Answer

This statement is incorrect. Lean tools are designed to be simple and intuitive, with a focus on practical problem-solving techniques that can be easily applied by anyone in the workplace. Six Sigma tools, on the other hand, tend to be more complex and specialized, requiring more advanced training and expertise to apply effectively. While both Lean and Six Sigma can be valuable approaches to process improvement, they each have their own strengths and limitations in terms of their applicability and ease of use.

Question 2

In which of the following stages of the PDSA cycle do the improvements become standardized and the final plan is implemented as a "current best practice" and communicated throughout the organization?
A)Study
B)Do
C)Plan
D)Act

Accepted Answer

The "Act" stage of the PDSA cycle involves implementing the final plan and standardizing the improvements as the current best practice. This includes communicating the new process throughout the organization.

Question 3

In which of the following stages of the PDSA cycle is the plan implemented on a trial basis,such as in a laboratory,pilot production process,or with a small group of customers,to evaluate a proposed solution and provide objective data?
A)Do
B)Study
C)Plan
D)Act

Accepted Answer

The Do stage involves putting the plan into action on a trial basis, which could be in a laboratory, pilot production process or with a small group of customers in order to obtain objective data and evaluate the proposed solution.

Question 4

Which of the following stages of the FADE approach focuses on creating a solution and implementation plan along with documentation to explain and justify recommendations to management who must allocate the resources?
A)Focus
B)Analyze
C)Execute
D)Develop

Accepted Answer

The Develop stage focuses on creating a solution and implementation plan, as well as providing documentation to explain and justify recommendations to management who must allocate resources.

Question 5

Which stage of the PDSA cycle consists of studying the current situation,understanding customer expectations,gathering data,and testing theories of causes?
A)Act
B)Plan
C)Do
D)Study

Accepted Answer

The Plan stage of the PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycle involves studying the current situation, understanding customer expectations, gathering data, and testing theories of causes to develop a plan for change.

Question 6

In which of the following stages of the FADE approach does a team select the problem to be addressed and define it,characterizing the current state of the process,why change is needed,what the desired result should be,and the benefits of achieving the result?
A)Analyze
B)Develop
C)Focus
D)Execute

Accepted Answer

The Focus stage of the FADE approach involves selecting and defining the problem to be addressed. It includes characterizing the current state, understanding why change is needed, defining the desired outcome, and outlining the benefits of achieving this outcome.

Question 7

The _____ is a simple adaptation of the scientific method for process improvement.
A)Deming cycle
B)Taguchi loss function
C)quality trilogy
D)quincunx experiment

Accepted Answer

The Deming cycle, also known as the PDCA cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act), is a simple and effective adaptation of the scientific method that is commonly used in process improvement. It involves identifying a problem or opportunity for improvement, developing and implementing a plan to address it, measuring the results, and using that information to refine the process or approach in subsequent cycles. The other options listed are different concepts or tools related to quality management, but they are not direct adaptations of the scientific method.

Question 8

An effective problem-solving process that can easily be adapted to quality improvement stems from _____ concepts pioneered by Alex Osborn.
A)creative-problem solving
B)cause-and-effect
C)hypothesis testing
D)analysis of variance

Accepted Answer

The effective problem-solving process that can easily be adapted to quality improvement stems from the creative-problem solving concepts pioneered by Alex Osborn. These concepts provide a structured approach to generate and evaluate new ideas, which can help organizations solve problems and improve their processes.

Question 9

The term _____ is based on a statistical measure that equates to 3.4 or fewer errors or defects per million opportunities.
A)Pareto analysis
B)Six Sigma
C)Quincunx
D)Quality trilogy

Accepted Answer

The term "Six Sigma" is based on a statistical measure that equates to 3.4 or fewer errors or defects per million opportunities. This is a key concept and goal of the Six Sigma methodology, which focuses on improving quality and reducing variability in processes. Options A, C, and D are not directly related to this statistical measure.

Question 10

Which of the following is the most widely known process improvement methodology used in Six Sigma?
A)Quincunx
B)FADE
C)DMAIC
D)TRIZ

Accepted Answer

DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) is the most widely known process improvement methodology used in Six Sigma. It is a structured approach for identifying and eliminating defects in a process and improving its performance. Quincunx, FADE, and TRIZ are other methodologies that are used in process improvement, but they are not as widely known or used as DMAIC.

Question 11

Which of the following categories of quality problems is characterized by unsatisfactory performance that causes customer dissatisfaction,such as high levels of defects,service failures,or customer complaints?
A)Unstructured performance problems
B)Conformance problems
C)Product design problems
D)Efficiency problems

Accepted Answer

Conformance problems refer to products or services not meeting specific requirements, resulting in unsatisfactory performance and customer dissatisfaction. This category includes high levels of defects, service failures, or customer complaints.

Question 12

In which of the following stages of the FADE approach does the team work to describe the process in detail,determine what data and information are needed,and develop a list of root causes for the problem?
A)Analyze
B)Focus
C)Develop
D)Execute

Accepted Answer

The Analyze stage of the FADE approach is where the team works to describe the process in detail, determine what data and information are needed, and develop a list of root causes for the problem. This stage is focused on analyzing the problem to understand its underlying causes and determine the best solutions. The Focus stage is where the team narrows down the list of potential solutions, the Develop stage is where the team creates a plan for implementing the chosen solution, and the Execute stage is where the team puts the plan into action.

Question 13

What is the Six Sigma quality level when the process standard deviation is 1ó and the tolerance range is 10 ó?
A)5
B)3
C)9
D)11

Accepted Answer

The Six Sigma quality level can be calculated using the formula: 
Six Sigma level = (Tolerance range)/(6 * Process standard deviation) 
Substituting the given values, 
Six Sigma level = (10ó)/(6 * 1ó) = 1.67 
Since Six Sigma level is typically rounded down to the nearest whole number, the Six Sigma quality level would be 1. Therefore, the best choice is A.

Question 14

Which of the following stages of the PDSA cycle determines whether the trial plan is working correctly by evaluating the results,recording the learning,and determining whether any further issues or opportunities need be addressed?
A)Study
B)Do
C)Plan
D)Act

Accepted Answer

The Study stage involves evaluating the results of the trial, recording any new learnings, and determining if any further issues or opportunities need to be addressed. This information is then used to plan the next cycle of the PDSA process.

Question 15

Which of the following categories of problems is characterized by unsatisfactory performance that causes dissatisfaction from the standpoint of noncustomer stakeholders,such as managers of financial or supply chain functions?
A)Product design problems
B)Efficiency problems
C)Unstructured performance problems
D)Conformance problems

Accepted Answer

Efficiency problems are those which affect the non-customer stakeholders, such as financial or supply chain managers. These problems relate to the organization's performance in terms of productivity, quality, and costs. The other categories of problems do not necessarily impact non-customer stakeholders in the same way.

Question 16

The cause-and-effect diagrams are constructed in a brainstorming type of atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

Cause-and-effect diagrams, also known as fishbone diagrams or Ishikawa diagrams, are typically constructed in a group brainstorming session where participants come up with potential causes for a specific problem or outcome. This collaborative atmosphere encourages creativity and helps to identify a wide range of potential causes.

Question 17

Lean production approaches focus on the elimination of waste in all forms,including defects requiring rework.

Accepted Answer

Lean production aims to eliminate all forms of waste, including defects that require rework, in order to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

Question 18

In which of the following stages of the FADE approach is the solution implemented and a monitoring plan is established?
A)Analyze
B)Develop
C)Focus
D)Execute

Accepted Answer

In the FADE approach, the implementation of the solution and the establishment of a monitoring plan is done in the Execute stage.

Question 19

The vertical axis on a run chart is the time scale.

Accepted Answer

The vertical axis on a run chart typically represents the measurement or value being tracked, while the horizontal axis represents time.

Question 20

Both Six Sigma and lean approaches are driven by customer requirements,focus on real dollar savings,have the ability to make significant financial impacts on the organization,and can easily be used in non-manufacturing environments.

Accepted Answer

Both Six Sigma and lean approaches are customer-focused and aim to improve efficiency and reduce waste, resulting in real dollar savings. They can be applied in various industries, including non-manufacturing environments. Therefore, the statement is true.

Quiz 9: Process Improvement and Six Sigma

Compared to lean tools,Six Sigma tools are more intuitive and easier to apply by anybody in the workplace

In which of the following stages of the PDSA cycle do the improvements become standardized and the final plan is implemented as a "current best practice" and communicated throughout the organization?

In which of the following stages of the PDSA cycle is the plan implemented on a trial basis,such as in a laboratory,pilot production process,or with a small group of customers,to evaluate a proposed solution and provide objective data?

Which of the following stages of the FADE approach focuses on creating a solution and implementation plan along with documentation to explain and justify recommendations to management who must allocate the resources?

Which stage of the PDSA cycle consists of studying the current situation,understanding customer expectations,gathering data,and testing theories of causes?

In which of the following stages of the FADE approach does a team select the problem to be addressed and define it,characterizing the current state of the process,why change is needed,what the desired result should be,and the benefits of achieving the result?

The _____ is a simple adaptation of the scientific method for process improvement.

An effective problem-solving process that can easily be adapted to quality improvement stems from _____ concepts pioneered by Alex Osborn.

The term _____ is based on a statistical measure that equates to 3.4 or fewer errors or defects per million opportunities.

Which of the following is the most widely known process improvement methodology used in Six Sigma?

Which of the following categories of quality problems is characterized by unsatisfactory performance that causes customer dissatisfaction,such as high levels of defects,service failures,or customer complaints?

In which of the following stages of the FADE approach does the team work to describe the process in detail,determine what data and information are needed,and develop a list of root causes for the problem?

What is the Six Sigma quality level when the process standard deviation is 1ó and the tolerance range is 10 ó?

Which of the following stages of the PDSA cycle determines whether the trial plan is working correctly by evaluating the results,recording the learning,and determining whether any further issues or opportunities need be addressed?

Which of the following categories of problems is characterized by unsatisfactory performance that causes dissatisfaction from the standpoint of noncustomer stakeholders,such as managers of financial or supply chain functions?

The cause-and-effect diagrams are constructed in a brainstorming type of atmosphere.

Lean production approaches focus on the elimination of waste in all forms,including defects requiring rework.

In which of the following stages of the FADE approach is the solution implemented and a monitoring plan is established?

The vertical axis on a run chart is the time scale.

Both Six Sigma and lean approaches are driven by customer requirements,focus on real dollar savings,have the ability to make significant financial impacts on the organization,and can easily be used in non-manufacturing environments.