BSEM Operations Management & Process Improvement 2

Question 1

In operations management, what does 'cycle time' refer to?

Accepted Answer

The time required to complete one unit from start to finish at a workstation

Answer

Cycle time is the elapsed time to complete one repetition of a process at a given workstation, directly affecting capacity and throughput.

Question 2

Which quality management tool displays the frequency distribution of defects by category to identify the most significant causes?

Accepted Answer

Pareto chart

Answer

A Pareto chart ranks defect categories by frequency, applying the 80/20 rule to focus improvement efforts on the most impactful causes.

Question 3

What is the primary purpose of Statistical Process Control (SPC)?

Accepted Answer

To monitor a process using statistical methods and detect variation

Answer

SPC uses control charts and statistical techniques to monitor process variation and distinguish common-cause from special-cause variation.

Question 4

In the Theory of Constraints (TOC), what is the first step in the five focusing steps?

Accepted Answer

Identify the system's constraint

Answer

The first focusing step is to identify the constraint—the bottleneck limiting system throughput—before taking any action to improve it.

Question 5

What does 'poka-yoke' mean in lean manufacturing?

Accepted Answer

A mistake-proofing device or technique that prevents errors

Answer

Poka-yoke refers to any mechanism that makes it impossible or immediately obvious when an error occurs, preventing defects at the source.

BSEM - Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management Practice Test