Quality Assurance & Process Optimization Flashcards

Which lean concept focuses on eliminating all activities that do not add value from the customer's perspective?

Answer: Waste elimination (Muda)

Muda refers to waste—any activity that consumes resources without creating value for the customer—and eliminating it is a core lean principle.

A process with a Cpk of 0.85 indicates the process is:

Answer: Not capable of meeting specifications

A Cpk below 1.0 means the process is not capable of consistently producing output within specification limits.

In statistical process control, the Upper Control Limit (UCL) is typically set at:

Answer: 3 standard deviations above the mean

Control limits are conventionally placed at ±3 standard deviations from the process mean, representing 99.73% of normal variation.

Which of the following best describes the purpose of a fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram?

Answer: Organize potential causes of a problem by category

A fishbone diagram visually organizes potential root causes of a problem into categories such as Man, Machine, Method, Material, and Environment.

Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) aims primarily to:

Answer: Maximize equipment effectiveness through employee involvement

TPM engages all employees, especially operators, in maintaining equipment to maximize Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).

A process technician performing a gauge R&R study is evaluating:

Answer: The repeatability and reproducibility of a measurement system

Gauge R&R assesses both the repeatability of a single operator and the reproducibility across multiple operators using the same instrument.

Which lean tool is used to visualize the flow of materials and information required to deliver a product or service?

Answer: Value Stream Map (VSM)

A Value Stream Map shows every step in the material and information flow from supplier to customer, revealing waste and improvement opportunities.