Quality Management Terms

Question 1

Activity network diagram

Answer 1

These diagrams, such as the project network diagram, show the flow of the project work.

Question 2

Affinity diagram

Answer 2

This diagram breaks down ideas, solutions, causes, and project components and groups them together with other similar ideas and components.

Question 3

Benchmarking

Answer 3

Comparing any two similar entities to measure their performance.

Question 4

Cause-and-effect diagrams

Answer 4

Diagrams that show the relationship between variables within a process and how those relationships may contribute to inadequate quality. The diagrams can help organize both the process and team opinions, as well as generate discussion on finding a solution to ensure quality.

Question 5

Control chart

Answer 5

A quality control chart that maps the performance of project work over time.

Question 6

Control quality

Answer 6

An inspection-driven process that measures work results to confirm that the project is meeting the relevant quality standards.

Question 7

Cost of conformance

Answer 7

This is the cost associated with the monies spent to attain the expected level of quality. It is also known as the cost of quality.

Question 8

Cost of nonconformance to quality

Answer 8

The cost associated with not satisfying quality expectations. This is also known as the cost of poor quality.

Question 9

Cost-benefit analysis

Answer 9

A process to study the trade-offs between costs and the benefits realized from those costs.

Question 10

Design of experiments

Answer 10

An approach that relies on statistical scenarios to determine what variables within a project will result in the best outcome.

Question 11

Flowchart

Answer 11

A diagram illustrating how components within a system are related. Flowcharts show the relation between components, as well as help the project team determine where quality issues may be present and, once done, plan accordingly.

Question 12

ISO

Answer 12

The abbreviation for the International Organization for Standardization. ISO is Greek for “equal,” while “International Organization for Standardization” in a different language would be abbreviated differently. The organization elected to use “ISO” for all languages.

Question 13

Matrix diagram

Answer 13

A data analysis table that shows the strength between variables and relationships in the matrix.

Question 14

Pareto diagram

Answer 14

A histogram that illustrates and ranks categories of failure within a project.

Question 15

Quality

Answer 15

According to ASQ, the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfills requirements.

Question 16

Quality management plan

Answer 16

This plan defines how the project team will implement and fulfill the quality policy of the performing organization.

Question 17

Rule of Seven

Answer 17

A component of a control chart that illustrates the results of seven measurements on one side of the mean, which is considered “out of control” in the project.

Question 18

Run chart

Answer 18

A quality control tool that shows the results of inspection in the order in which they’ve occurred. The goal of a run chart is first to demonstrate the results of a process over time and then to use trend analysis to predict when certain trends may reemerge.

Question 19

Scatter diagram

Answer 19

A quality control tool that tracks the relationship between two variables over time. The two variables are considered related the closer they track against a diagonal line.

Question 20

Seven basic quality tools

Answer 20

These seven tools are used in quality planning and in quality control: cause-and-effect diagrams, flowcharts, check sheets, Pareto diagrams, histograms, control charts, and scatter diagrams.

Question 21

Statistical sampling

Answer 21

A process of choosing a percentage of results at random. For example, a project creating a medical device may have 20 percent of all units randomly selected to check for quality.

Question 22

System or process flowcharts

Answer 22

Flowcharts that illustrate the flow of a process through a system, such as a project change request through the change control system, or work authorization through a quality control process.

Question 23

Tree diagram

Answer 23

Tree diagrams show the hierarchies and decomposition of a solution, an organization, or a project team.

Question 24

Work performance information

Answer 24

The results of the project work as needed. This includes technical performance measures, project status, information on what the project has created to date, corrective actions, and performance reports.