(CQE) Course Flashcards

A quality engineer wants to assess the capability of a process. Which index measures whether the process is centered within the specification limits?

Answer: Cpk

Cpk accounts for process centering by using the minimum of the upper and lower capability indices, while Cp only measures spread.

In a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), the Risk Priority Number (RPN) is calculated as:

Answer: Severity × Occurrence × Detection

RPN = Severity × Occurrence × Detection, combining all three risk dimensions into a single priority score.

Which type of control chart is most appropriate for monitoring the number of defects per unit when the sample size varies?

Answer: u chart

The u chart tracks defects per unit and accommodates variable subgroup sizes, unlike the c chart which requires constant sample size.

A quality team uses a cause-and-effect diagram. Which of the following best describes its primary purpose?

Answer: Identify root causes of a problem

The Ishikawa (fishbone) diagram organizes potential causes into categories to identify root causes of a quality problem.

In acceptance sampling, what does the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) represent?

Answer: The worst tolerable process average for acceptance

AQL is the quality level that is the worst tolerable process average still considered acceptable for routine acceptance by the sampling plan.

Which statistical distribution is most commonly used to model the time between failures of a repairable system?

Answer: Exponential distribution

The exponential distribution models constant failure rates and is the basis for mean time between failures (MTBF) calculations.

A quality engineer is conducting a gage R&R study. A high percentage of variation attributed to reproducibility indicates:

Answer: Different appraisers are measuring inconsistently

Reproducibility variation reflects differences between appraisers using the same gage, pointing to operator-related measurement inconsistency.