CQE (CQE) Fundamentals 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram is used primarily to:
- Display the frequency distribution of defects
- Identify and organize potential root causes of a problem (Correct answer)
- Track process performance over time
- Prioritize defects by their financial impact
Correct answer: Identify and organize potential root causes of a problem
The fishbone diagram is a cause-and-effect tool used to systematically identify and organize potential causes of a problem.
Question 2: Which sampling plan standard is most commonly used for attribute inspection of discrete lots in the United States?
- ISO 3951
- ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 (Correct answer)
- MIL-STD-1916
- ANSI/ASQ Z1.9
Correct answer: ANSI/ASQ Z1.4
ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 is the standard sampling procedure for inspection by attributes, widely used in US industry.
Question 3: When a process is said to be 'in statistical control,' it means:
- All output meets specification
- Only common cause variation is present (Correct answer)
- The process Cp exceeds 1.33
- No defects have been produced recently
Correct answer: Only common cause variation is present
A process in statistical control exhibits only common cause (random) variation with no special causes present.
Question 4: The primary purpose of a Management Review in a QMS is to:
- Audit supplier quality performance
- Evaluate QMS suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness at the highest level (Correct answer)
- Train employees on new quality procedures
- Approve customer complaints for resolution
Correct answer: Evaluate QMS suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness at the highest level
Management Review is a top-level activity where senior management evaluates whether the QMS remains suitable, adequate, and effective.
Question 5: Which of the following BEST defines 'reliability' in engineering terms?
- The probability that a product meets specifications at purchase
- The probability that a product performs its intended function for a specified time under stated conditions (Correct answer)
- A product's ability to be repaired quickly after failure
- The consistency of production output within a shift
Correct answer: The probability that a product performs its intended function for a specified time under stated conditions
Reliability is formally defined as the probability of a product functioning as intended over a specified period under defined conditions.
Question 6: A Pareto chart is BEST used to:
- Determine the statistical distribution of process data
- Identify the vital few causes that account for most of the problems (Correct answer)
- Compare two process means for significant difference
- Track individual measurements over time
Correct answer: Identify the vital few causes that account for most of the problems
Pareto charts apply the 80/20 rule to identify the few categories of defects or causes responsible for the majority of problems.
Question 7: During a quality audit, the auditor finds that a corrective action was implemented but the root cause was not verified as eliminated. This is BEST classified as:
- A minor nonconformance in documentation
- An ineffective corrective action requiring follow-up (Correct answer)
- An observation with no formal disposition required
- An acceptable condition if symptoms have not recurred
Correct answer: An ineffective corrective action requiring follow-up
Corrective actions must address root cause and be verified for effectiveness; unverified actions represent an ineffective CAR requiring follow-up.
CQE (CQE) Fundamentals 3
A fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram is used primarily to: