Performance Management

Question 1

Define “Six Sigma”.

Answer 1

Six Sigma is a quality improvement approach that is designed to systematically reduce defects. Six Sigma is also a fact-based method to achieve cost reduction.

Question 2

List the characteristics of lean manufacturing.

Answer 2

Flexible equipment, low setup times, and highly-skilled labor.

Question 3

Describe the lean manufacturing process.

Answer 3

Making small batches of a high variety of unique products usually with automated or otherwise sophisticated machinery and highly skilled labor (usually cross-trained).

Question 4

Describe demand flow technology (DFT).

Answer 4

Uses mathematical methods to link materials, time,and resources based on continuous flow planning. The objective is to link process flows and manage those flows based on customer demand.

Question 5

Describe the five phases of the Six Sigma DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) project methodology.

Answer 5

1. Define customers and their requirements
2. Measure defects and other items related to quality
3. Analyze to determine root cause of failures and the sources of variation
4. Improve through experimentation
5. Control results using TQM statistical process control tools (e.g., control charts).

Question 6

Describe the Theory of Constraints (TOC).

Answer 6

TOC identifies strategies to maximize income when the organization is faced with bottleneck operations. A bottleneck operation occurs when the work to be performed exceeds the capacity of the production facilities.