Introduction

Question 1

What is one common thing that causes Six Sigma process improvements to fail?

Answer 1

Lack of management buy-in

Question 2

What is Six Sigma philosophy?

Answer 2

Structured and disciplined problem solving process that provides perfect products and services consistently. Improves bottom line by finding and eliminating mistakes.

Question 3

What is Six Sigma as a tool set?

Answer 3

Set of qualitative and quantitative tools used by Six Sigma experts to drive process improvements

Question 4

What methodology is the most widely used and recognized when using Six Sigma as a process improvement philosophy?

Answer 4

DMAIC

Question 5

As a metric, what does Six Sigma mean?

Answer 5

A process that has less than 3.4 defect per million opportunities

Question 6

What is the difference between Lean and Six Sigma?

Answer 6

Lean drives out waste and Six Sigma focuses on reducing process variation and enhances process control

Question 7

Quality is the responsibility of who at an organization?

Answer 7

Everyone

Question 8

Define the word process:

Answer 8

series of steps that produce a product or service

Question 9

What does DMAIC stand for?

Answer 9

define, measure, analyze, improve, control

Question 10

What are the eight forms of waste?

Answer 10

DOWNTIME. Defects, overproduction, waiting, non-utilized resources, transportation, inventory, motion, excessive processing

Question 11

Describe defect as a form of waste:

Answer 11

fail to meet customer expectations (internal or external)

Question 12

Describe overproduction as a form of waste:

Answer 12

making more than needed to meet demand

Question 13

Describe waiting as a form of waste:

Answer 13

time spent in queues between steps in a process

Question 14

Describe non-utilized resources as a form of waste:

Answer 14

people are a resource. use them to improve the process

Question 15

Describe transportation as a form of waste:

Answer 15

Movement of materials or information from one place to another. non-value added. Also increases error potential

Question 16

Describe inventory as a form of waste:

Answer 16

Excess inventory above quantity demanded. Can get lost, stolen, damaged, or obsolete.

Question 17

Describe motion as a form of waste:

Answer 17

A person moving from one place to another. Inefficient workspace. Bending, lifting, reaching, walking - all wasteful movements.

Question 18

Describe excessive processing as a form of waste:

Answer 18

Extra processing that does not add value. Over-automating or under-automating. Inspection that does not take place at the source. Unnecessary processing that the customer will not pay for.

Question 19

Describe a thought process map:

Answer 19

graphical methods to capture and present complex critical thought processes to solve a problem or achieve a goal. Take form of: Question – Action – Answer

Question 20

What elements make a good problem statement?

Answer 20

concise, contain a metric to monitor performance, and not contain a solution

Question 21

Define business case:

Answer 21

Businesses have a fixed amount of time and resources. A business case is used to define which problem is worth improving in terms of monetary gain

Question 22

What can thought process maps be used for?

Answer 22

Determining what critical questions should be answered. Determining what actions should be taken to answer the critical questions. Determine what conclusions can be made from actions taken. Determine what course of action should be taken?

Question 23

Why reduce input variability?

Answer 23

Decreases defects in output