Question 1

A workflow analysis is performed to determine waste and areas to target for improved efficiencies. A workflow analysis can also be used for which of the following?
A)Compiling employee interview results.
B)Eliminating standardized work.
C)Making recommendations for processes that need to be changed.
D)Determining views towards automation.

Accepted Answer

A workflow analysis can be used for making recommendations for processes that need to be changed. While the analysis cannot enact the changes, it provides decision-making tools for improving the workflow by reducing waste and improving efficiency.

Question 2

Flowcharting is a graphical representation of the steps in a process. Flowcharts are drawn to better understand processes and are one of the seven tools of quality. What can a flowchart NOT do?
A)Show analysis of data.
B)Show gaps in a process.
C)Show readiness to deliver a project.
D)Identify steps in a process with symbols or shapes.

Accepted Answer

A flowchart cannot show the analysis of data. It can be used to display process "flow" through graphics and symbols to improve performance. A well-designed flowchart will also demonstrate a team's understanding of what is included in the workflow of a project, and can be used to evaluate if they are fully ready undertake a project.

Question 3

Flow analysis charts are used to show analysis of the points in flow which have been displayed in a flow chart. Which of the following would require a flow analysis?
A)Flow charting the logistical requirements to move newspapers from the United States to China.
B)Flow charting the ingredients and steps in baking croissants.
C)Development of the steps to build a greenhouse.
D)Development of software for landscaping.

Accepted Answer

The development of software for landscaping would require a flow analysis, as the corresponding steps are the most complex from the choices given. Flow analysis differs from a flow chart in that a flow analysis will contain detailed variation, characteristics, and patterns in the analysis.

Question 4

Value stream mapping is mapping of all activities (both value-added and non-value-added) that are needed to bring a product from its raw material state into a state ready for use by a customer. Which of the following baseline measurements in a value stream map would measure the amount of work that fluctuates for a given activity?
A)First pass yield.
B)Cycle lead time.
C)Demand variation.
D)Process capability measures.

Accepted Answer

Demand variation in a value stream map would measure the amount of work that fluctuates for a given activity. A value stream map shows all of the actions required to change raw materials into a product delivered to the customer. The map separates the value-added activities of a system from the non-value-added activities. The non-value-added activities are opportunities for possible improvement within the system. The value stream shows the process flow from order to delivery.

Question 5

Takt time is the time between the production of consecutive items processed in a production system. If a bakery bakes 50 loaves of bread and there are 500 minutes of production, what is the Takt time?
A)The Takt time is 100 minutes.
B)The Takt time is 50 minutes.
C)The Takt time is 500 minutes.
D)The Takt time is 10 minutes.

Accepted Answer

If a bakery bakes 50 loaves of bread and there are 500 minutes of production, the Takt time is 10 minutes. 500/50 = 10.

Question 6

Data collection and presentation includes maintaining a repository of relevant improvement data and displaying it in a manner so that stakeholders understand its progress over time. All of the following are data collection plan components EXCEPT:
A)Who will collect the data.
B)Metrics such as KPOV or KPIV.
C)The cost of assembling the data.
D)Operational definitions.

Accepted Answer

The cost of assembling data is not included in a data collection plan. It does include metrics, who will collect the data, operational definitions, sample sizes, frequency, location, and how the data will be displayed.

Question 7

Which process improvement diagram, picture, or chart would a lean team use to show if the improvements implemented in a project are improving over time?
A)A scatter diagram.
B)A trend analysis.
C)A Pareto chart.
D)Histogram of the process measures.

Accepted Answer

A lean team would use a histogram to show if the improvements implemented in a project are improving over time. Scatter diagrams are used to show the correlations between variables. Trend analyses show if the improvements implemented in projects are improving from the baseline or benchmarks. Pareto charts help ensure a balance between effort and resources.

Question 8

Pareto charts are graphical tools used for ranking causes from most significant to least significant. Which of the following is incorrect regarding when you would use a Pareto chart?
A)When the causes are already known by a team.
B)When you want to focus on the most significant problems or issue.
C)When focusing on the frequency of problems.
D)When communicating with a team about process data.

Accepted Answer

When the causes are already known by a team, you would not use a Pareto chart. If the causes are known there is no need to rank them.

Question 9

Check sheets are one of the seven tools of quality which include the cause and effect diagram, check sheet, control chart, flowchart, histogram, Pareto chart, and scatter diagram. The checklist is a mistake-proofing aid. What is a check sheet used for?
A)Auditing process outputs.
B)Capturing and categorizing observations.
C)Carrying out multi-step procedures.
D)Finishing of process outputs.

Accepted Answer

Check sheets are used for collecting data in real time at the location where the data is generated. The check sheet is for capturing and categorizing observations, whereas the checklist is used as a mistake-proofing aid for multi-step procedures.

Question 10

When identifying root causes, several tools can be used to resolve chronic problems. Which tool would you use to rank causes from most significant to least significant?
A)Cause and effect diagrams.
B)Fault tree analysis.
C)Pareto charts.
D)Waste analysis.

Accepted Answer

Pareto charts are used to rank causes from most significant to least significant. Joseph M. Juran developed the principle, which was named after Vilfredo Pareto. It suggests that most effects come from relatively few causes.

Question 11

Cause and effect diagrams illustrate the main causes and sub-causes leading to an effect, or the inputs x which result in the output y in the equation y = f (x). The resulting diagram resembles a fishbone diagram called the Ishikawa diagram. Cause and effect diagrams are used in all of the following EXCEPT:
A)When identifying possible causes for a problem.
B)When a team is having difficulty brainstorming causes.
C)When asking "why does this happen?"
D)When an analysis of data is needed.

Accepted Answer

Cause and effect diagrams are used to identify possible causes for a problem, when a team is having difficulty brainstorming problem solutions, and when asking "why does this happen?" Cause and effect diagrams are not used to perform data analysis.

Question 12

The 5 whys are a questioning process designed to drill down into the details of a problem or a solution by refining a problem statement or a potential solution and get to the root cause or root solution. It is used for brain storming. Which of the following is NOT a situation in which a project team would use brainstorming?
A)When the solution of scope is defined.
B)When original ideas are desired.
C)When participation of the entire team is desired.
D)When several options are desired.

Accepted Answer

Brainstorming is a method for generating a large number of creative ideas in a short period of time. When the solution of the scope is defined a project team would not use brainstorming, as the solution is already defined.

Question 13

Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) identifies potential product failures by scoring risks. Scores for each category are on a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of risk. Which score is considered a trigger for corrective action?
A)Any RPN value exceeding 80 requires a corrective action.
B)Any RPN value exceeding 60 requires a corrective action.
C)Any RPN value exceeding 40 requires a corrective action.
D)Any RPN value exceeding 20 requires a corrective action.

Accepted Answer

Any Risk Priority Number (RPN) value exceeding 80 requires a corrective action. The FMEA evaluates each process step and assigns a score on a scale of 1 to 10 for the following variables of severity, occurrence and detection. The Risk priority number is calculated as RPN= severity X occurrence X detection.

Question 14

Variation data is commonly displayed in histogram form. The pattern of variation in a set of data is called a distribution. Which of the following questions would NOT impact a project team's graphic display of variation?
A)Is the distribution asymmetrical?
B)Is the distribution symmetric?
C)What is the most common value for the variable?
D)How much variation is present?

Accepted Answer

"Is the distribution asymmetrical?" is not a question a project team would ask when graphically displaying data. Distributions can be described using the term's shape, center, and spread. Shape asks whether the distribution is symmetric. Center asks what the most common value for the variable is. Spread asks how much variation is present.

Question 15

Statistical process control charts monitor processes and may be applied to production or business processes. Statistical process control helps us understand variation and process capability and performance by using control charts of Cp, Cpk, Pp, Ppk, x-bar, and R, and attribute charts of - p, np, c, and u. Which control chart is used to plot units that do not conform when samples of equal size are taken from the process?
A)P control charts.
B)U charts.
C)Moving average control charts or c charts.
D)Np control charts.

Accepted Answer

Np control charts are used to plot units that do not conform when samples of equal size are taken from the process. The np attribute control chart shows the number of defective units in a sample for determining a go or no go situation. The c chart shows the number of defects in a subgroup, the p chart shows the proportion of defects in a subgroup, and the u chart shows the defects per unit in a subgroup.

Question 16

Scatter and concentration diagrams show the correlations between variables. Which of the following is NOT an application for a scatter diagram?
A)When the dependent variable has multiple values for each value of the independent variable.
B)When you are trying to identify potential root causes of problems.
C)When you have paired numerical data.
D)When you know two variables are related.

Accepted Answer

If two variables are related, this would not be an appropriate application for a scatter diagram. The scatter diagram is used when you are trying to determine whether the two variables are related. The scatter diagram graphs pairs of numerical data with one variable on each axis to look for a relationship between them. If the variables are correlated, the points will fall along a line or curve. The better the correlation, the tighter the points will be to the correlation line.

Question 17

Product and service design techniques are refined using the voice of the customer. Which question below would be a question related to the VOC?
A)What types or products do we offer?
B)What issues do you have within your organization?
C)How many competitors do you have?
D)What is a defect?

Accepted Answer

"What is a defect?" would be a question related to the VOC. VOC questions determine the customer needs and requirements.

Question 18

Engineering changes and capabilities may be required in lean or Six Sigma methodologies. Engineering changes are most commonly needed in which of the following?
A)PDSA changes.
B)Kaizen blitz events.
C)DMADV methodology.
D)Poke yoke implementation.

Accepted Answer

DMADV methodology most commonly requires engineering changes, as the methodology is used for new products or services requiring design and product verification. The capabilities must be engineered into the new design or prototype.

Question 19

Concurrent engineering is a method by which several teams within an organization work simultaneously to develop new products and services. Which process below would benefit most from concurrent engineering?
A)A consortium of farmers.
B)A computer technology development company.
C)A taxi cab service company.
D)A book publishing company.

Accepted Answer

A computer technology development company would benefit most from concurrent engineering. Concurrent engineering is a method where several teams in an organization work simultaneously to develop new products and services. By developing several products at once, the amount of time getting a new product to market is significantly decreased.

Question 20

Quality Function Deployment (QFD) is used to relate the characteristics that customers value to the specific features and specifications of the product. Quality Function Deployment is often called the "house of quality" from its appearance. Which of the following scoring choices is NOT included in the QFD process?
A)The cost of comparable products.
B)The customer's voice.
C)Positive and negative relationships between the process how's.
D)Competitor ratings for similar products.

Accepted Answer

The cost of comparable products is not included in the QFD process. Quality Function Deployment (QFD) focuses on the quality of a product, not the cost. QFD is a systematic process for motivating a business to focus on its customers. It is used by cross-functional teams to identify and resolve issues involved in providing products, processes, services, and strategies to satisfy their customers.

Quiz 2: Continuous Improvement

A workflow analysis is performed to determine waste and areas to target for improved efficiencies. A workflow analysis can also be used for which of the following?

Flowcharting is a graphical representation of the steps in a process. Flowcharts are drawn to better understand processes and are one of the seven tools of quality. What can a flowchart NOT do?

Flow analysis charts are used to show analysis of the points in flow which have been displayed in a flow chart. Which of the following would require a flow analysis?

Takt time is the time between the production of consecutive items processed in a production system. If a bakery bakes 50 loaves of bread and there are 500 minutes of production, what is the Takt time?

Data collection and presentation includes maintaining a repository of relevant improvement data and displaying it in a manner so that stakeholders understand its progress over time. All of the following are data collection plan components EXCEPT:

Which process improvement diagram, picture, or chart would a lean team use to show if the improvements implemented in a project are improving over time?

Pareto charts are graphical tools used for ranking causes from most significant to least significant. Which of the following is incorrect regarding when you would use a Pareto chart?

Check sheets are one of the seven tools of quality which include the cause and effect diagram, check sheet, control chart, flowchart, histogram, Pareto chart, and scatter diagram. The checklist is a mistake-proofing aid. What is a check sheet used for?

When identifying root causes, several tools can be used to resolve chronic problems. Which tool would you use to rank causes from most significant to least significant?

Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) identifies potential product failures by scoring risks. Scores for each category are on a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of risk. Which score is considered a trigger for corrective action?

Variation data is commonly displayed in histogram form. The pattern of variation in a set of data is called a distribution. Which of the following questions would NOT impact a project team's graphic display of variation?

Scatter and concentration diagrams show the correlations between variables. Which of the following is NOT an application for a scatter diagram?

Product and service design techniques are refined using the voice of the customer. Which question below would be a question related to the VOC?

Engineering changes and capabilities may be required in lean or Six Sigma methodologies. Engineering changes are most commonly needed in which of the following?

Concurrent engineering is a method by which several teams within an organization work simultaneously to develop new products and services. Which process below would benefit most from concurrent engineering?