CQE (CQE) Course 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A quality engineer wants to assess the capability of a process. Which index measures whether the process is centered within the specification limits?
- Cp
- Cpk (Correct answer)
- Pp
- Ppk
Correct answer: Cpk
Cpk accounts for process centering by using the minimum of the upper and lower capability indices, while Cp only measures spread.
Question 2: In a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), the Risk Priority Number (RPN) is calculated as:
- Severity × Occurrence
- Severity + Occurrence + Detection
- Severity × Occurrence × Detection (Correct answer)
- Occurrence × Detection
Correct answer: Severity × Occurrence × Detection
RPN = Severity × Occurrence × Detection, combining all three risk dimensions into a single priority score.
Question 3: Which type of control chart is most appropriate for monitoring the number of defects per unit when the sample size varies?
- c chart
- p chart
- u chart (Correct answer)
- np chart
Correct answer: u chart
The u chart tracks defects per unit and accommodates variable subgroup sizes, unlike the c chart which requires constant sample size.
Question 4: A quality team uses a cause-and-effect diagram. Which of the following best describes its primary purpose?
- Prioritize defects by frequency
- Identify root causes of a problem (Correct answer)
- Monitor process performance over time
- Establish acceptance sampling plans
Correct answer: Identify root causes of a problem
The Ishikawa (fishbone) diagram organizes potential causes into categories to identify root causes of a quality problem.
Question 5: In acceptance sampling, what does the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) represent?
- The worst tolerable process average for acceptance (Correct answer)
- The probability that a lot will be rejected
- The average number of defectives in a sample
- The maximum defect rate that triggers 100% inspection
Correct 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.
Question 6: Which statistical distribution is most commonly used to model the time between failures of a repairable system?
- Normal distribution
- Binomial distribution
- Exponential distribution (Correct answer)
- Poisson distribution
Correct answer: Exponential distribution
The exponential distribution models constant failure rates and is the basis for mean time between failures (MTBF) calculations.
Question 7: A quality engineer is conducting a gage R&R study. A high percentage of variation attributed to reproducibility indicates:
- The measurement system has excessive part variation
- Different appraisers are measuring inconsistently (Correct answer)
- The gage has poor resolution
- Calibration of the instrument is overdue
Correct answer: Different appraisers are measuring inconsistently
Reproducibility variation reflects differences between appraisers using the same gage, pointing to operator-related measurement inconsistency.
CQE (CQE) Course 2
A quality engineer wants to assess the capability of a process.
Which index measures whether the process is centered within the specification limits?