COM COM Quality Management & Control 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which quality management philosophy emphasizes continuous improvement through small, incremental changes involving all employees?
- Six Sigma
- Kaizen (Correct answer)
- Total Quality Management
- ISO 9001
Correct answer: Kaizen
Kaizen is a Japanese philosophy focused on continuous, incremental improvement with participation from all levels of the organization.
Question 2: In quality control, what does a control chart primarily help operations managers monitor?
- Employee performance ratings
- Process variation over time (Correct answer)
- Customer satisfaction scores
- Budget expenditures
Correct answer: Process variation over time
Control charts are statistical tools used to monitor process variation over time and distinguish between common cause and special cause variation.
Question 3: What is the primary purpose of a Quality Management System (QMS) in an operations environment?
- Reduce headcount
- Ensure consistent product/service quality and continuous improvement (Correct answer)
- Increase production speed only
- Eliminate all defects immediately
Correct answer: Ensure consistent product/service quality and continuous improvement
A QMS provides a structured framework to ensure consistent quality delivery, meet customer requirements, and drive ongoing improvement.
Question 4: Which defect rate is associated with Six Sigma quality performance?
- 3.4 defects per million opportunities (Correct answer)
- 34 defects per million opportunities
- 3.4 defects per thousand opportunities
- 340 defects per million opportunities
Correct answer: 3.4 defects per million opportunities
Six Sigma quality means achieving no more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities, representing near-perfect process performance.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a Pareto chart in quality management?
- Track employee attendance
- Identify the most significant causes of defects or problems (Correct answer)
- Schedule production shifts
- Monitor inventory levels
Correct answer: Identify the most significant causes of defects or problems
A Pareto chart displays defect categories in descending order of frequency to help managers focus on the 20% of causes responsible for 80% of problems.
Question 6: In the DMAIC methodology used in Six Sigma, what does the 'M' stand for?
- Manage
- Measure (Correct answer)
- Monitor
- Modify
Correct answer: Measure
DMAIC stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control — 'Measure' involves collecting data on current process performance.
COM COM Quality Management & Control 1
Which quality management philosophy emphasizes continuous improvement through small, incremental changes involving all employees?