Foundational Concepts & Principles Flashcards
7 cards from real CPS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Foundational Concepts & Principles flashcards as text
Which principle states that a process should be designed so that its outputs consistently meet defined specifications without requiring 100% inspection?
Answer: Built-in quality principle
The built-in quality principle (also called 'quality at the source') ensures processes produce conforming outputs by design rather than relying on downstream inspection.
A process with a Cp of 1.33 and a Cpk of 0.85 indicates which condition?
Answer: The process is capable but not centered on the target
A Cp > 1.33 indicates sufficient spread capability, but Cpk < 1.00 means the process mean is shifted away from the target, reducing effective capability.
In process thinking, the concept of 'value stream' refers to:
Answer: All activities required to deliver a product or service from concept to customer
A value stream encompasses all activities — both value-adding and non-value-adding — from raw material or concept through delivery to the customer.
Which of the following best describes a 'process owner'?
Answer: The person accountable for the end-to-end performance and continuous improvement of a process
A process owner holds accountability for the entire process lifecycle, from design through measurement and improvement, regardless of departmental boundaries.
The 'hidden factory' concept in process management refers to:
Answer: Unplanned rework, inspection, and correction activities not reflected in standard process documentation
The hidden factory represents all the extra work — rework, sorting, re-inspection — done to fix defects, which consumes capacity but adds no customer value.
Which statement about process boundaries is most accurate?
Answer: Clearly defined process boundaries establish where one process ends and another begins, reducing ambiguity in handoffs
Well-defined process boundaries clarify inputs, outputs, suppliers, and customers (SIPOC), minimizing interface ambiguity and handoff failures.
Takt time is best described as:
Answer: The rate at which products or services must be completed to meet customer demand
Takt time = Available production time ÷ Customer demand rate, setting the rhythm the process must maintain to satisfy demand without overproducing.