Study Guide: Continuous Improvement

Question 1

These charts are used to identify the most frequent issues

Answer 1

Pareto Charts (80/20 rule)

Question 2

Graph used to compare the relationship between two continuous variables

Answer 2

Scatter Diagrams

Question 3

A graphical representation of the frequency of occurrences of some event

Answer 3

Histogram

Question 4

Used to summarize counts of events

Answer 4

Check Sheets

Question 5

Used to monitor a quality characteristic

Answer 5

Control Charts

Question 6

A process map that contains info on the suppliers, inputs, outputs, and customers of a process

Answer 6

SIPOC diagram (helps capture the voice of the customer and critical-to-quality factors

Question 7

These charts help to determine potential disruptions to a process plan

Answer 7

Process Decision Program Chart (PDPC)

Question 8

Provide a visualization of hierarchical relationships of events that lead to some failure

Answer 8

Fault Trees

Question 9

Used to summarize facts, opinions or ideas

Answer 9

Affinity Diagrams

Question 10

Displays qualitative relationships between two sets of characteristics

Answer 10

Matrix Diagrams (QFD)

Question 11

A means to identify sequential or cause and effect relationships of a problem

Answer 11

Interrelationship Diagraph

Question 12

Provides a formal method for comparing decisions or ideas before making a final decision

Answer 12

Prioritization Matrices

Question 13

Incremental change continually to improve a process

Answer 13

Kaizen

Question 14

Focuses on customers involvement in determining quality, employees obligations to quality, and strong leadership from upper management in quality improvement efforts:

Answer 14

Total Quality Management (TQM)

Question 15

Primary goal is to reduce the number of defects produced

Answer 15

Six Sigma

Question 16

Drawback of six sigma programs

Answer 16

Lack of company buy-in because they focus on tools only

Question 17

5S

Answer 17

Sort
Set in order
Shine
Standardize
Sustain

Question 18

Visual cues to help ease restocking efforts

Answer 18

Kanban system

Question 19

Used to organize a workplace

Answer 19

5S

Question 20

Time it takes to complete an activity

Answer 20

Cycle Time

Question 21

Time available / units required =

Answer 21

Takt time (based on customer demand)

Question 22

Primary strength of the Theory of Constraints (TOC)

Answer 22

A system cannot improve by focusing improvements solely on individual processes

Question 23

What value of sigma (standard deviation) is used to account for typical drifts from the mean?

Answer 23

+/- 1.5 Sigma

Question 24

What value of Cp is associated a six sigma-quality level process?

Answer 24

2.0

Question 25

What method is most effective way to implement six sigma?

Answer 25

Develop a six sigma infrastructure

Question 26

Which tool is typically used first in a lean system?

Answer 26

Value Stream Map

Question 27

After creating the value stream map, which step is next?

Answer 27

Non-value-added activities

Question 28

Main benefit of implementing a Kanban system

Answer 28

Less inventory and a smoother flow of supplies

Question 29

What measures the time from the last good part of one type to the first good part of the next?

Answer 29

Single-minute exchange of die (SMED)

Question 30

What is the difference between cycle time and takt time?

Answer 30

Takt time is based on customer demand while cycle time measures the time to complete an activity

Question 31

What is one of the most common causes of failures in problem solving?

Answer 31

Poor definition of the problem

Question 32

During correction phase (of corrective action cycle) what is instrumental to success?

Answer 32

Creativity

Question 33

During which phase (of corrective action cycle) does the team seek to continuously improve the performance by holding regular reviews?

Answer 33

Effectiveness Assessment