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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. To what does the Six in Six Sigma relate?
To monitor a process when measurement by attribute is used.
QFD
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).
The target number of standard deviations from the mean for specifications.

2. What inventory approach contributes to process quality by "lowering the river to find the rocks?"
Mistake-proofing.
Lean is waste reduction - Six Sigma is variation reduction.
Lean (or JIT).
They move closer to the center line.

3. Does it ever make sense to accept a job when a process is incapable?
F_alpha - df(tr) - df (error)
Yes - when there are opportunities to improve - when contribution margin is adequate - when achieving market share is important.
The ratio of outputs to inputs; 1-scrap.
Hold all input variables constant except one. Observe the response as you vary the single input.

4. What is the center line of an X-bar chart?
68%
Defects Per Million Opportunities
X-bar-bar
The number of standard deviations some value is from the mean.

5. What is a run chart?
They move closer to the center line.
0.9^3 or 72.9%
Prevention - appraisal - internal failure - external failure.
A time series plot.

6. One factor at a time (OFAT)
Hold all input variables constant except one. Observe the response as you vary the single input.
An interaction is defined as a dependence relationship between the response and the levels of two or more variables
What the value of the dependent variable is when the independent variable is zero.
QFD

7. What does the abbreviation UCL stand for?
Vary two or more variables simultaneously - Multiple measurements are obtained under the same experimental conditions
A descending order-sorted bar chart with a cumulative percentage line.
Shifts - Trends - Repeating patterns - Correlation with known events
Upper control limit.

8. In the Service Quality Gap Model - what is Gap 2?
An assertion or conjecture concerning one or more populations
Before production starts
To mentor/coach (and sometimes train) black belts.
The gap between what management thinks customers want and the process specifications.

9. For what is an x-bar chart used?
To monitor a process when measurement by variables is used.
Organize ideas into meaningful categories by recognizing their underlying similarity
Conformance to specifications.
Causes that lead to a particular effect.

10. Manual Test for Nomality
Kaoru Ishikawa.
1) Obtain Residuals 2) Fill out table --> y coordinates: F = 100 (i-.5)/N x coordinates: Ordered Residual 3) Plot on Normal Probability Paper
Fishbone - cause-and-effect diagram.
Assigns scores to weighted criteria for each project under consideration.

11. Stratified defect check sheets
The gap between what management thinks customers want and what customers really want.
Studying firms with the best performance in a particular area.
A tool that shows where there is waste in a process.
Stratify a particular defect type according to logical criteria

12. What are the 5 Ss?
To obtain a certain desirable outcome from the process
Defects Per Million Opportunities
Sampling for SPC is done real time.
Sort - Set in Order - Shine - Standardize - Sustain

13. What is Type 1 Error?
It's good -- but it's still out of control!
The secondary characteristics of a product; "bells and whistles."
Shifts - Trends - Repeating patterns - Correlation with known events
Concluding there has been an effect/change when there has not.

14. Failure Mode
Is the way in which the failure is manifested.
A random variable that summarizes the information from the sample(s).
System to reduce waste and optimize productivity through maintaining an orderly workplace and using visual cues to achieve more consistent operational results.
Studying firms with the best performance in a particular area.

15. What is a Gantt chart?
Shows the temporal flow of activities in a project network.
Fishbone - cause-and-effect diagram.
Consumer risk.
Deming.

16. Approximately what percent of a normal distribution falls between ± 3 standard deviations from the mean?
Concluding there has not been an effect/change when there has.
Complaint adjustment - returned material - warranty charges - allowances - loss of future business.
The Japanese national quality award.
99.73%

17. What is DPMO?
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:
No -- only if the process is also capable.
No; if the process is centered - Cp will be the same; if not - Cpk is what you need to determine capabilty.
Defects Per Million Opportunities

18. Define benchmarking.
Studying firms with the best performance in a particular area.
A descending order-sorted bar chart with a cumulative percentage line.
Rapid improvement process.
Kaoru Ishikawa.

19. Which type of SPC measurement is more precise - variable or attribute?
False - because each machine will have different natural tolerances.
Concluding there has been an effect/change when there has not.
Brand image.
Variable.

20. What does SIPOC stand for?
Supplier - input - process - output - customer.
Scrap - rework - retest - downtime - yield losses - disposition costs.
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
Technical quality is the "what" of the service; functional quality is the "how."

21. Risk Priority Number RPN
= S x O x D S--> Severity O--> Occurrence D--> Detection Higher the number the worse it is
Outside.
Central Limit Theorem
10 if Almost impossible to detect

22. An SPC chart shows no points outside the control limits. Does this mean the process is in control?
No -- the variation also has to be random and "expected."
No; if the process is centered - Cp will be the same; if not - Cpk is what you need to determine capabilty.
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
Is the way in which the failure is manifested.

23. Regression Analysis
1) Plot a Line chart of the data in time sequence 2) Draw a line at the median
10 for Hazardous without warning 1 for none
Vary two or more variables simultaneously - Multiple measurements are obtained under the same experimental conditions
Technique used to relate through a model - one or more independent variables and a dependent variable (response)

24. Approximately what percent of a normal distribution falls between ± 2 standard deviations from the mean?
Shifts - Trends - Repeating patterns - Correlation with known events
Linearity - normality - homoscedasticity - independence.
95%
Rank of 10 if there is >= 100 per 1000 piece Rank of 1 if there is <=.01 per 1000 pieces

25. Test for constant variance
= 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
Observed variation in response is caused by the input
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.
Attribute.

26. Effect ranking (Severity of the Defect)
A diagram that shows the relationships between activities in a project network.
Outside.
Large enough to find two of the attribute - on average.
10 for Hazardous without warning 1 for none

27. Pareto Analysis
The process of ranking opportunities to determine which of many potential opportunities should be pursued first.
The gap between what management thinks customers want and what customers really want.
=sqrt(Σ(x-x-bar)^2)/(n-1))
What the value of the dependent variable is when the independent variable is zero.

28. List two components of external failure.
False - because each machine will have different natural tolerances.
Complaint adjustment - returned material - warranty charges - allowances - loss of future business.
= S x O x D S--> Severity O--> Occurrence D--> Detection Higher the number the worse it is
100%

29. In a regression - what does the standard error of the estimate tell you?
Walter A. Shewhart
How much variance you expect around the prediction; two SEs gives you a 95% confidence interval.
Decomposing the total variation of data into: (a) the internal or "natural" or "within" groups variation - and (b) the "between" groups variation in such a way that when these two types of variation are compared - it's possible to determine if there
False - because each machine will have different natural tolerances.

30. What are the Five Dimensions of Service Quality?
Someone who is consistently against virtually everything.
The secondary characteristics of a product; "bells and whistles."
Reliability - Assurance - Responsiveness - Tangibles - Empathy
Represents the behavior of a process

31. Creating a Run Chart
Mean time to failure.
To obtain a certain desirable outcome from the process
1) Plot a Line chart of the data in time sequence 2) Draw a line at the median
3.4 (assuming 1.5 sigma shift in the mean)

32. What is Type II Error?
Concluding there has not been an effect/change when there has.
A simple graph between two variables - visualize the type - degree of strength and shape of the relationship between two variables
Different types of defects are listed (used for Pareto chart)
Upper control limit.

33. Presence of interaction effect
Lean is waste reduction - Six Sigma is variation reduction.
Quality planning - design review - education and training - process control - IS costs - quality reporting - improvement project costs - working with suppliers before production.
If the Response vs. Levels graph if the response lines are not parallel (crossing)
The US national quality award.

34. For what is a p-chart used?
A simple graph between two variables - visualize the type - degree of strength and shape of the relationship between two variables
50%
Pleasing to the senses.
To monitor a process when measurement by attribute is used.

35. Define performance quality.
The primary operating characteristics of a product.
The gap between what customers expect and the service they receive.
An experiment where one or more variables believed to have an effect on an experimental outcome are identified and manipulated according to a plan
The secondary characteristics of a product; "bells and whistles."

36. When either attribute or variable measures could be used for SPC - why might attribute measurement be preferred?
100%
Sampling for SPC is done real time.
1.Interactions can be detected and measured 2.Each value does the work of several values 3.Experimental error is quantified and used to determine the confidence the experimenter has in the conclusions
Lower skill requirements - faster - less chance for error.

37. Define durability.
Method developed by Ishikawa to graphically display the causes of any given problem
Can't tell without a Range chart.
The gap between what is promised and what is delivered.
Mean time to replacement.

38. For your SPC sample you weigh bags of potatoes. Is this variable or attribute SPC?
Hold all input variables constant except one. Observe the response as you vary the single input.
Variable.
The ratio of outputs to inputs; 1-scrap.
95%

39. What is a Pareto chart?
Stratify a particular defect type according to logical criteria
A descending order-sorted bar chart with a cumulative percentage line.
Variable.
Yes - when there are opportunities to improve - when contribution margin is adequate - when achieving market share is important.

40. What is written on the "spines" of a fishbone diagram?
Studying firms with the best performance in a particular area.
Causes that lead to a particular effect.
Prevention - appraisal - internal failure - external failure.
= 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

41. Histogram by Hand
Actual drawings - layouts - maps - etc which show where a defect occurs
No; if the process is centered - Cp will be the same; if not - Cpk is what you need to determine capabilty.
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
A brainstorming tool that shows the connections between ideas.

42. What is the 5S model?
Kaoru Ishikawa.
Observed variation in response is caused by the input
System to reduce waste and optimize productivity through maintaining an orderly workplace and using visual cues to achieve more consistent operational results.
A diagram that shows the relationships between activities in a project network.

43. In the Service Quality Gap Model - what is Gap 4?
The gap between what is promised and what is delivered.
Attribute
Lean (or JIT).
How much variance you expect around the prediction; two SEs gives you a 95% confidence interval.

44. Defect check sheets
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis
Causes that lead to a particular effect.
Different types of defects are listed (used for Pareto chart)
Fractional factorial designs (orthogonal arrays)

45. What are the three main categories of assignable cause?
The amount of variation in the dependent variable that is explained by the variation in the independent variable(s).
Represent the errors which are random variables with an assumed normal distribution with mean zero and a constant variance σ2.
Workers - machines - materials.
Large enough to find two of the attribute - on average.

46. What is the Baldrige Award?
The US national quality award.
No -- only if the process is also capable.
Shifts - Trends - Repeating patterns - Correlation with known events
Sampling for SPC is done real time.

47. List two components of prevention cost.
Scrap - rework - retest - downtime - yield losses - disposition costs.
Quality planning - design review - education and training - process control - IS costs - quality reporting - improvement project costs - working with suppliers before production.
The amount of variation in the dependent variable that is explained by the variation in the independent variable(s).
Actual drawings - layouts - maps - etc which show where a defect occurs

48. What are the four perspectives of the Balanced Scorecard?
Is the way in which the failure is manifested.
They move closer to the center line.
The amount of variation in the dependent variable that is explained by the variation in the independent variable(s).
Financial - customer - internal process - innovation and learning.

49. What is a Gage R&R?
A time series plot.
No -- only if the process is also capable.
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).
The gap between what customers expect and the service they receive.

50. List Garvin's eight dimensions of product quality.
Performance - features - conformance - reliability - durability - serviceability - aesthetics - perceived quality
The cycle time required to meet demand.
Linearity - normality - homoscedasticity - independence.
Lean (or JIT).