AME Quality Control & Process Improvement 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which root cause analysis tool uses a fishbone diagram to categorize potential causes of a defect?
- Pareto chart
- Ishikawa diagram (Correct answer)
- Control chart
- Run chart
Correct answer: Ishikawa diagram
The Ishikawa (fishbone) diagram organizes potential causes into categories such as people, process, equipment, and environment.
Question 2: In an AME office, a '5 Why' analysis is performed when a pilot's medical file was incorrectly flagged. The technique is best described as:
- Benchmarking against peer AMEs
- Iteratively asking why until the root cause is identified (Correct answer)
- Ranking defects by frequency and impact
- Mapping the entire process flow
Correct answer: Iteratively asking why until the root cause is identified
The 5 Why technique repeatedly asks 'why' an event occurred, drilling down until the fundamental root cause is uncovered.
Question 3: A control chart shows a run of eight consecutive data points on the same side of the centerline. This pattern indicates:
- Normal random variation
- A special cause that warrants investigation (Correct answer)
- The process is under statistical control
- Measurement system error only
Correct answer: A special cause that warrants investigation
Eight or more consecutive points on one side of the centerline is a Western Electric run rule violation signaling a non-random special cause.
Question 4: Which metric best measures the effectiveness of a corrective action implemented after an AME audit finding?
- Number of examinations performed per month
- Recurrence rate of the same finding after the corrective action (Correct answer)
- Total revenue generated by the AME office
- Time spent completing FAA Form 8500-8
Correct answer: Recurrence rate of the same finding after the corrective action
Tracking whether the same finding recurs after a corrective action directly measures whether the action was effective.
Question 5: Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) differs from Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) primarily in that PDSA emphasizes:
- Larger sample sizes during the Do phase
- Learning and deeper analysis of results in the Study phase (Correct answer)
- Faster implementation cycles
- External benchmarking rather than internal data
Correct answer: Learning and deeper analysis of results in the Study phase
PDSA replaces 'Check' with 'Study' to stress thorough learning and interpretation of results before acting.
Question 6: An AME notices that vision screening errors cluster on Monday mornings. The most appropriate QI action is to:
- Eliminate Monday morning appointments immediately
- Investigate whether fatigue, equipment calibration, or workflow factors cause the pattern (Correct answer)
- Report all Monday exams as invalid to the FAA
- Increase the number of vision tests per pilot on Mondays
Correct answer: Investigate whether fatigue, equipment calibration, or workflow factors cause the pattern
Investigating the specific conditions present on Monday mornings follows a data-driven root cause approach before implementing changes.
Question 7: Which statistical concept describes the degree to which a measurement process produces consistent results under the same conditions?
- Accuracy
- Reliability (Correct answer)
- Validity
- Sensitivity
Correct answer: Reliability
Reliability refers to the consistency or repeatability of measurements under the same conditions.
AME Quality Control & Process Improvement 2
Which root cause analysis tool uses a fishbone diagram to categorize potential causes of a defect?