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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. What does a project prioritization matrix do?
System to reduce waste and optimize productivity through maintaining an orderly workplace and using visual cues to achieve more consistent operational results.
Large enough to find two of the attribute - on average.
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis
Assigns scores to weighted criteria for each project under consideration.

2. What does the abbreviation UCL stand for?
Attribute
To manage the Six Sigma project.
Upper control limit.
The number of standard deviations some value is from the mean.

3. What is Jidoka?
Lower skill requirements - faster - less chance for error.
Variable.
3.4 (assuming 1.5 sigma shift in the mean)
Controlling quality at the source.

4. Who is a process owner?
The cycle time required to meet demand.
The manager in charge of a process being improved in a Six Sigma project.
A simple graph between two variables - visualize the type - degree of strength and shape of the relationship between two variables
Actual drawings - layouts - maps - etc which show where a defect occurs

5. Affinity Diagrams
Quality planning - design review - education and training - process control - IS costs - quality reporting - improvement project costs - working with suppliers before production.
Organize ideas into meaningful categories by recognizing their underlying similarity
Method developed by Ishikawa to graphically display the causes of any given problem
1) Obtain Residuals 2) Fill out table --> y coordinates: F = 100 (i-.5)/N x coordinates: Ordered Residual 3) Plot on Normal Probability Paper

6. Pareto Analysis
Variable.
The process of ranking opportunities to determine which of many potential opportunities should be pursued first.
Method developed by Ishikawa to graphically display the causes of any given problem
Data reduction to put a large number of qualitative inputs into a smaller number of major dimensions

7. In Juran's Cost of Quality model - which categories of costs balance which other categories?
Prevention and appraisal costs are balanced against internal and external failure.
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
Upper control limit.
Reliability - Assurance - Responsiveness - Tangibles - Empathy

8. Creating a Run Chart
1) Plot a Line chart of the data in time sequence 2) Draw a line at the median
Hold all input variables constant except one. Observe the response as you vary the single input.
Defects Per Million Opportunities
False - because each machine will have different natural tolerances.

9. What are the four perspectives of the Balanced Scorecard?
p-bar - the long-run percent defective.
Sampling for SPC is done real time.
Someone who is consistently against virtually everything.
Financial - customer - internal process - innovation and learning.

10. List Garvin's eight dimensions of product quality.
A chart that breaks the range of data into equal intervals and then shows the count of occurrences in each interval.
Taguchi
Performance - features - conformance - reliability - durability - serviceability - aesthetics - perceived quality
The manager in charge of a process being improved in a Six Sigma project.

11. What type of risk is associated with Type 1 Error?
Producer risk.
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).
Assigns scores to weighted criteria for each project under consideration.
Variable.

12. What is process capability?
To mentor/coach (and sometimes train) black belts.
=sqrt(Σ(x-x-bar)^2)/(n-1))
The gap between what is promised and what is delivered.
The ability of a process to consistently meet customer specifications.

13. List two appraisal costs.
Incoming materials inspection - inspection and testing - maintaining test equipment - materials/services consumed
The degree to which a product meets pre-established standards.
Central Limit Theorem
The secondary characteristics of a product; "bells and whistles."

14. With Six Sigma capability - how many defects per million opportunities would you see?
3.4 (assuming 1.5 sigma shift in the mean)
Hold all input variables constant except one. Observe the response as you vary the single input.
A brainstorming tool that shows the connections between ideas.
The gap between what management thinks customers want and what customers really want.

15. What are two other names for an Ishikawa diagram?
68%
Fishbone - cause-and-effect diagram.
= 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
Incoming materials inspection - inspection and testing - maintaining test equipment - materials/services consumed

16. What is the role of a master black belt?
To mentor/coach (and sometimes train) black belts.
To obtain a certain desirable outcome from the process
No -- the variation also has to be random and "expected."
X-bar-bar

17. Failure effect
Taguchi
Define - measure - analyze - improve - control.
Define - measure - analyze - design - verify.
Is the consequence of the failure.

18. For what is a p-chart used?
It's good -- but it's still out of control!
To monitor a process when measurement by attribute is used.
If the Response vs. Levels graph if the response lines are not parallel (crossing)
Scrap - rework - retest - downtime - yield losses - disposition costs.

19. What is an affinity diagram?
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.
99.73%
A brainstorming tool that shows the connections between ideas.

20. How does Juran define quality?
The manager in charge of a process being improved in a Six Sigma project.
The Japanese national quality award.
Fitness for use.
50%

21. What is Type 1 Error?
Method developed by Ishikawa to graphically display the causes of any given problem
Concluding there has been an effect/change when there has not.
0.9^3 or 72.9%
Sort - Set in Order - Shine - Standardize - Sustain

22. What is the Baldrige Award?
The US national quality award.
= 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
3.4 (assuming 1.5 sigma shift in the mean)
The primary operating characteristics of a product.

23. What does DMAIC stand for?
Kaoru Ishikawa.
Define - measure - analyze - improve - control.
Is the consequence of the failure.
Controlling quality at the source.

24. Residual
Represent the errors which are random variables with an assumed normal distribution with mean zero and a constant variance σ2.
Quality planning - design review - education and training - process control - IS costs - quality reporting - improvement project costs - working with suppliers before production.
System to reduce waste and optimize productivity through maintaining an orderly workplace and using visual cues to achieve more consistent operational results.
A scatterplot.

25. When Crosby said - "Quality is free -" what dimension of quality was he referring to?
50%
Conformance to specifications.
Mean time to failure.
No -- only if the process is also capable.

26. What is the formula for standard deviation?
=sqrt(Σ(x-x-bar)^2)/(n-1))
To do a capability study for a non-centered process.
Lower skill requirements - faster - less chance for error.
The gap between what is promised and what is delivered.

27. What is Value Stream Mapping?
A descending order-sorted bar chart with a cumulative percentage line.
= S x O x D S--> Severity O--> Occurrence D--> Detection Higher the number the worse it is
The secondary characteristics of a product; "bells and whistles."
A tool that shows where there is waste in a process.

28. There are two milling machines in the shop. Data has been collected on one to compute control limits for both. This is acceptable SPC practice - true or false and why?
1) Obtain Residuals 2) Fill out table --> y coordinates: F = 100 (i-.5)/N x coordinates: Ordered Residual 3) Plot on Normal Probability Paper
Lean (or JIT).
False - because each machine will have different natural tolerances.
Initiated before or at design concept finalization

29. Histogram by Hand
10 if Almost impossible to detect
Look to your customer - not to other firms. "You can always find someone shorter - fatter and balder!"
Yes - when there are opportunities to improve - when contribution margin is adequate - when achieving market share is important.
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

30. Why do you need two control charts for variables SPC?
Because the mean and standard deviation are independent of each other.
Shows the temporal flow of activities in a project network.
50%
A diagram that shows the relationships between activities in a project network.

31. Who developed the fishbone diagram?
Kaoru Ishikawa.
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).
10 if Almost impossible to detect
= S x O x D S--> Severity O--> Occurrence D--> Detection Higher the number the worse it is

32. TWO-DIMENTIONAL SCATTER PLOT
A simple graph between two variables - visualize the type - degree of strength and shape of the relationship between two variables
Complaint adjustment - returned material - warranty charges - allowances - loss of future business.
Mean time to failure.
It's good -- but it's still out of control!

33. Define conformance quality.
Conformance to specifications.
Studying firms with the best performance in a particular area.
The degree to which a product meets pre-established standards.
A diagram that shows the relationships between activities in a project network.

34. Complete this quality phrase: 'Fix the process - not the _____.'
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
Waste.
A tool that shows performance along key dimensions all at once.
Blame.

35. What is a dashboard?
Performance - features - conformance - reliability - durability - serviceability - aesthetics - perceived quality
A tool that shows performance along key dimensions all at once.
Is the way in which the failure is manifested.
A scatterplot.

36. Regression
False - because each machine will have different natural tolerances.
It usually isn't possible to hold all other variables constant - There is no way to account for the effect of joint variation of independent variables - such as interaction - There is no way to account for experimental error - including measurement v
A time series plot.
Represents the behavior of a process

37. One factor at a time (OFAT)
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.
The gap between what management thinks customers want and the process specifications.
Observed variation in response is caused by the input
Prediction and estimation. based on an unknown x value - estimation is based on a known x value

38. What is the role of a black belt?
Shows the temporal flow of activities in a project network.
To manage the Six Sigma project.
Workers - machines - materials.
The degree to which a product meets pre-established standards.

39. Defect location check sheets
Concluding there has been an effect/change when there has not.
Actual drawings - layouts - maps - etc which show where a defect occurs
To monitor a process when measurement by variables is used.
Quality planning - design review - education and training - process control - IS costs - quality reporting - improvement project costs - working with suppliers before production.

40. You have been plotting sample means on an x-bar chart and all points indicate normal - expected variation. Is the process in control?

41. 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.
Producer risk.
Not necessarily.
To mentor/coach (and sometimes train) black belts.

42. Approximately what percent of a normal distribution falls between ± 1 standard deviations from the mean?
Assigns scores to weighted criteria for each project under consideration.
68%
Is the consequence of the failure.
Represents the behavior of a process

43. What is a run chart?
If the Response vs. Levels graph if the response lines are not parallel (crossing)
Speed - courtesy - competence - and ease of repair.
A tool that shows the physical flows through a space.
A time series plot.

44. The Test Statistic (TS)
A systemized group of activities designed to 1. recognize and evaluate the potential failure of product/process and its effects 2. Identify actions which could eliminate or reduce the chance of potential failure ocurring 3. document the process
A random variable that summarizes the information from the sample(s).
Workers - machines - materials.
Waste.

45. Statistical Hypothesis
Conformance to specifications.
To mentor/coach (and sometimes train) black belts.
False - because each machine will have different natural tolerances.
An assertion or conjecture concerning one or more populations

46. Approximately what percent of a normal distribution falls between ± 3 standard deviations from the mean?
Reliability - Assurance - Responsiveness - Tangibles - Empathy
99.73%
5%
To be a member of a Six Sigma project team.

47. Simple Regression Analysis (one factor regression model)
Sort - Set in Order - Shine - Standardize - Sustain
It usually isn't possible to hold all other variables constant - There is no way to account for the effect of joint variation of independent variables - such as interaction - There is no way to account for experimental error - including measurement v
= 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
Controlling quality at the source.

48. Your production process meets customer specifications. Is your process in control?
Define - measure - analyze - design - verify.
Not necessarily.
An experiment where one or more variables believed to have an effect on an experimental outcome are identified and manipulated according to a plan
A systemized group of activities designed to 1. recognize and evaluate the potential failure of product/process and its effects 2. Identify actions which could eliminate or reduce the chance of potential failure ocurring 3. document the process

49. What is CTQ?
Fractional factorial designs (orthogonal arrays)
Critical to quality.
Deming.
An assertion or conjecture concerning one or more populations

50. Risk Priority Number RPN
= S x O x D S--> Severity O--> Occurrence D--> Detection Higher the number the worse it is
Concluding there has been an effect/change when there has not.
Defects Per Million Opportunities
Look to your customer - not to other firms. "You can always find someone shorter - fatter and balder!"