Quality Control & Process Improvement Flashcards
7 cards from real MEOC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Quality Control & Process Improvement flashcards as text
When a mini excavator consistently undercuts the specified trench depth by 2 inches, the FIRST corrective action should be:
Answer: Re-calibrate the depth indicator or verify bucket tooth wear
Systematic depth errors typically point to a worn bucket, misread indicator, or improperly set depth stop, so calibration and inspection of wear items should be the first corrective step.
Which document is most useful for tracking recurring mini excavator defects over multiple shifts?
Answer: Defect trend log or recurring-issue register
A defect trend log consolidates issues across shifts, making it possible to identify patterns and prioritize corrective actions.
A Kaizen event focused on mini excavator operations is best described as:
Answer: A short, intensive team effort to identify and eliminate waste in a specific workflow
Kaizen events are time-boxed, team-driven improvement workshops aimed at rapidly reducing waste and improving a targeted process.
An operator notices that spoil piles are consistently placed too close to the excavation edge. Which process improvement tool would best map the steps leading to this problem?
Answer: Process flow diagram
A process flow diagram visually maps each step in a workflow, making it easier to pinpoint where the spoil-placement decision is made incorrectly.
During a quality audit of excavation work, inspectors find that 70% of defects stem from just 3 out of 15 identified causes. This principle is best represented by:
Answer: The 80/20 Pareto principle
The Pareto principle states that roughly 80% of effects come from 20% of causes, making it a useful prioritization tool for defect reduction.
What is the primary purpose of a control chart in mini excavator operations quality control?
Answer: To monitor process performance over time and detect variation outside acceptable limits
Control charts plot performance data over time with upper and lower control limits to signal when a process is drifting out of acceptable range.
If an operator's dig cycle time increases steadily over two weeks without any change in soil conditions, the most likely quality-related cause is:
Answer: Gradual mechanical degradation such as hydraulic wear or bucket tooth dullness
A steady increase in cycle time with no change in conditions typically indicates equipment wear reducing efficiency, which is a quality and maintenance concern.