Test your basic knowledge |

Six Sigma

Subjects : certifications, six-sigma, business-skills

Instructions:

Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. For what is a p-chart used?
X-bar-bar
No -- the variation also has to be random and "expected."
To monitor a process when measurement by variables is used.
To monitor a process when measurement by attribute is used.

2. What is the formula for standard deviation?
Upper control limit.
A tool that shows the physical flows through a space.
=sqrt(Σ(x-x-bar)^2)/(n-1))
= yij - y(bar)i --> value minus sum of that treatment (of row)

3. Define conformance quality.
Mistake-proofing.
To mentor/coach (and sometimes train) black belts.
The degree to which a product meets pre-established standards.
1) Plot a Line chart of the data in time sequence 2) Draw a line at the median

4. Which type of SPC measurement is more precise - variable or attribute?
Variable.
Walter A. Shewhart
1) Identify the Range (Max Value - Min Value) 2) Determine # of bins 3) Determine the Width of each bin --> (Range / # Bins) 4) Put values in correct Bin
Attribute

5. What does SIPOC stand for?
Define - measure - analyze - design - verify.
Supplier - input - process - output - customer.
p-bar - the long-run percent defective.
5%

6. Define product reliability.
Technique used to relate through a model - one or more independent variables and a dependent variable (response)
Incoming materials inspection - inspection and testing - maintaining test equipment - materials/services consumed
Mean time to failure.
95%

7. What is DMADV?
Because the mean and standard deviation are independent of each other.
Variable.
10 for Hazardous without warning 1 for none
Define - measure - analyze - design - verify.

8. Defect check sheets
Different types of defects are listed (used for Pareto chart)
Upper control limit.
Define - measure - analyze - improve - control.
Another way to assess the significance of the analyzed factors is through a graphic procedure developed by C. Daniel when only one replicate (a single observation) was obtained:

9. What is Jidoka?
Studying firms with the best performance in a particular area.
Organize ideas into meaningful categories by recognizing their underlying similarity
Lean (or JIT).
Controlling quality at the source.

10. In the Service Quality Gap Model - what is Gap 2?
Vary two or more variables simultaneously - Multiple measurements are obtained under the same experimental conditions
1) Plot a Line chart of the data in time sequence 2) Draw a line at the median
QFD
The gap between what management thinks customers want and the process specifications.

11. Simple Regression Analysis (one factor regression model)
Different types of defects are listed (used for Pareto chart)
Represent the errors which are random variables with an assumed normal distribution with mean zero and a constant variance σ2.
1) Obtain Residuals 2) Fill out table --> y coordinates: F = 100 (i-.5)/N x coordinates: Ordered Residual 3) Plot on Normal Probability Paper
= y = Beta(0) + Beta(1)X + epsilon y=dependent variable (response) x=independent variable (predictor of y) - epsilon=error component - Beta(not)=intersection. If data include zero - it represents the mean of the distribution of y when - x=0. It does

12. F value
The secondary characteristics of a product; "bells and whistles."
Inventory = throughput x flow time.
Used to create frequency distribution tally sheets
F_alpha - df(tr) - df (error)

13. What is the difference between the way sampling is done for SPC and for acceptance sampling?
Sampling for SPC is done real time.
Concluding there has been an effect/change when there has not.
Represent the errors which are random variables with an assumed normal distribution with mean zero and a constant variance σ2.
Used to create frequency distribution tally sheets

14. What is the center line of an X-bar chart?
X-bar-bar
Lean is waste reduction - Six Sigma is variation reduction.
F_alpha - df(tr) - df (error)
Define - measure - analyze - improve - control.

15. Test for Independence
Fitness for use.
Shows the temporal flow of activities in a project network.
consists of plotting the residuals vs. the order of each experiment - If - as in the case of the constant variance a random horizontal band is obtained - the ______________ of the residuals is not rejected. (should be random above a below the line i
A simple graph between two variables - visualize the type - degree of strength and shape of the relationship between two variables

16. Defect location check sheets
Actual drawings - layouts - maps - etc which show where a defect occurs
Is the consequence of the failure.
Look to your customer - not to other firms. "You can always find someone shorter - fatter and balder!"
A scatterplot.

17. What is process capability?
Performance - features - conformance - reliability - durability - serviceability - aesthetics - perceived quality
The ability of a process to consistently meet customer specifications.
Before production starts
Can't tell without a Range chart.

18. What is a Gantt chart?
Shows the temporal flow of activities in a project network.
Attribute
F_alpha - df(tr) - df (error)
Method developed by Ishikawa to graphically display the causes of any given problem

19. Test for constant variance
Plot the residuals vs. the fitted values (mean of each group - y(hat) = y (bar)i ) - Assumption of ____________not rejected if the dispersion of every group is approximately the same.
To do a capability study for a non-centered process.
What the value of the dependent variable is when the independent variable is zero.
The process of ranking opportunities to determine which of many potential opportunities should be pursued first.

20. TWO-DIMENTIONAL SCATTER PLOT
Scrap - rework - retest - downtime - yield losses - disposition costs.
The primary operating characteristics of a product.
A simple graph between two variables - visualize the type - degree of strength and shape of the relationship between two variables
Large enough to find two of the attribute - on average.

21. What is the role of a green belt?
To be a member of a Six Sigma project team.
Mistake-proofing.
The amount of variation in the dependent variable that is explained by the variation in the independent variable(s).
An interaction is defined as a dependence relationship between the response and the levels of two or more variables

22. Daniel Test
Pleasing to the senses.
Look to your customer - not to other firms. "You can always find someone shorter - fatter and balder!"
Another way to assess the significance of the analyzed factors is through a graphic procedure developed by C. Daniel when only one replicate (a single observation) was obtained:
1) Identify the Range (Max Value - Min Value) 2) Determine # of bins 3) Determine the Width of each bin --> (Range / # Bins) 4) Put values in correct Bin

23. Name the structure associated with Quality Function Deployment.
The degree to which a product meets pre-established standards.
The House of Quality.
Rapid improvement process.
The ratio of outputs to inputs; 1-scrap.

24. When is Cpk used?
To do a capability study for a non-centered process.
Is what induces the failure
Rapid improvement process.
A random variable that summarizes the information from the sample(s).

25. What does the abbreviation LCL stand for?
A diagram that shows the relationships between activities in a project network.
An interaction is defined as a dependence relationship between the response and the levels of two or more variables
= yij - y(bar)i --> value minus sum of that treatment (of row)
Lower control limit.

26. Who developed the fishbone diagram?
Hold all input variables constant except one. Observe the response as you vary the single input.
Because the mean and standard deviation are independent of each other.
Kaoru Ishikawa.
Mistake-proofing.

27. What are the Five Dimensions of Service Quality?
Represents the behavior of a process
What the value of the dependent variable is when the independent variable is zero.
Supplier - input - process - output - customer.
Reliability - Assurance - Responsiveness - Tangibles - Empathy

28. In a regression - what does the p value of F tell you?
To obtain a certain desirable outcome from the process
How likely it is to have an F statistic of that value if there really is no relationship between the dependent variable and the independent variable(s).
A descending order-sorted bar chart with a cumulative percentage line.
Lean (or JIT).

29. Complete this quality phrase: 'Fix the process - not the _____.'
Blame.
To monitor a process when measurement by variables is used.
Sort - Set in Order - Shine - Standardize - Sustain
=sqrt(Σ(x-x-bar)^2)/(n-1))

30. Detection Criteria Ranking
Deming.
The secondary characteristics of a product; "bells and whistles."
50%
10 if Almost impossible to detect

31. When Crosby said - "Quality is free -" what dimension of quality was he referring to?
Conformance to specifications.
A tool that shows where there is waste in a process.
Prediction and estimation. based on an unknown x value - estimation is based on a known x value
If the Response vs. Levels graph if the response lines are not parallel (crossing)

32. A process is operating "in control." Does this mean the customer's requirements are met?
To manage the Six Sigma project.
No -- only if the process is also capable.
Attribute.
Used to create frequency distribution tally sheets

33. How are LQL and AQL determined in an acceptance sampling plan?
Look to your customer - not to other firms. "You can always find someone shorter - fatter and balder!"
Through producer/consumer negotiation.
A scatterplot.
Attribute.

34. If your process is capable at two sigma - what percentage of the output will you have to inspect to find defectives?
Kaoru Ishikawa.
Lower skill requirements - faster - less chance for error.
100%
Speed - courtesy - competence - and ease of repair.

35. What is Little's Law?
Inventory = throughput x flow time.
Look to your customer - not to other firms. "You can always find someone shorter - fatter and balder!"
A chart that breaks the range of data into equal intervals and then shows the count of occurrences in each interval.
consists of plotting the residuals vs. the order of each experiment - If - as in the case of the constant variance a random horizontal band is obtained - the ______________ of the residuals is not rejected. (should be random above a below the line i

36. What are the 5 Ss?
Sort - Set in Order - Shine - Standardize - Sustain
A tools that is used to measure the amount of variation in the measurement system arising from the measurement device (repeatability) and the people taking the measurement (reproducibility).
Conformance to specifications.
An assertion or conjecture concerning one or more populations

37. Presence of interaction effect
If the Response vs. Levels graph if the response lines are not parallel (crossing)
QFD
Concluding there has been an effect/change when there has not.
The amount of variation in the dependent variable that is explained by the variation in the independent variable(s).

38. Histogram by Hand
1) Identify the Range (Max Value - Min Value) 2) Determine # of bins 3) Determine the Width of each bin --> (Range / # Bins) 4) Put values in correct Bin
F_alpha - df(tr) - df (error)
Shifts - Trends - Repeating patterns - Correlation with known events
Brand image.

39. When either attribute or variable measures could be used for SPC - why might attribute measurement be preferred?
Lower skill requirements - faster - less chance for error.
To monitor a process when measurement by attribute is used.
The ratio of outputs to inputs; 1-scrap.
consists of plotting the residuals vs. the order of each experiment - If - as in the case of the constant variance a random horizontal band is obtained - the ______________ of the residuals is not rejected. (should be random above a below the line i

40. What are the four perspectives of the Balanced Scorecard?
An assertion or conjecture concerning one or more populations
Financial - customer - internal process - innovation and learning.
Kaoru Ishikawa.
Is the way in which the failure is manifested.

41. Non-random patterns (Run Charts)
Define - measure - analyze - design - verify.
Attribute
0.9^3 or 72.9%
Shifts - Trends - Repeating patterns - Correlation with known events

42. What is Value Stream Mapping?
QFD
Lower control limit.
= S x O x D S--> Severity O--> Occurrence D--> Detection Higher the number the worse it is
A tool that shows where there is waste in a process.

43. Approximately what percent of a normal distribution falls between ± 2 standard deviations from the mean?
95%
Lean is waste reduction - Six Sigma is variation reduction.
The ability of a process to consistently meet customer specifications.
A brainstorming tool that shows the connections between ideas.

44. Approximately what percent of a normal distribution falls between ± 1 standard deviations from the mean?
68%
Quality planning - design review - education and training - process control - IS costs - quality reporting - improvement project costs - working with suppliers before production.
99.73%
Technical quality is the "what" of the service; functional quality is the "how."

45. Define benchmarking.
Studying firms with the best performance in a particular area.
A time series plot.
10 for Hazardous without warning 1 for none
The US national quality award.

46. Regression Analysis
Technique used to relate through a model - one or more independent variables and a dependent variable (response)
Sampling for SPC is done real time.
Define - measure - analyze - design - verify.
Not necessarily.

47. Stratified defect check sheets
Yes - when there are opportunities to improve - when contribution margin is adequate - when achieving market share is important.
Causes that lead to a particular effect.
Stratify a particular defect type according to logical criteria
Studying firms with the best performance in a particular area.

48. What are the four categories of costs in Juran's framework?
95%
Producer risk.
Outside.
Prevention - appraisal - internal failure - external failure.

49. What is a CAVE man?
= S x O x D S--> Severity O--> Occurrence D--> Detection Higher the number the worse it is
Someone who is consistently against virtually everything.
Hold all input variables constant except one. Observe the response as you vary the single input.
The manager in charge of a process being improved in a Six Sigma project.

50. What is the difference between Lean and Six Sigma?
Lean is waste reduction - Six Sigma is variation reduction.
0.9^3 or 72.9%
The gap between what is promised and what is delivered.
Through producer/consumer negotiation.