Continuous Improvement Flashcards
7 cards from real CQIA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Continuous Improvement flashcards as text
A process improvement team has identified five potential root causes for a quality problem. Which tool would BEST help them prioritize which cause to address first?
Answer: Pareto chart
A Pareto chart ranks causes by frequency or impact, helping teams focus on the vital few causes that account for most of the problem.
In the context of continuous improvement, what is the purpose of establishing a 'baseline'?
Answer: To measure current performance before making changes
A baseline measures current process performance so that the impact of improvement actions can be quantified and compared.
Which statement BEST describes the concept of 'value-added' activity in process improvement?
Answer: An activity the customer is willing to pay for and that transforms the product
A value-added activity must meet three criteria: the customer cares about it, it physically changes the product or service, and it is done right the first time.
A supervisor resists a process change proposed by the improvement team. According to change management principles, what should the team do FIRST?
Answer: Understand and address the supervisor's concerns
Engaging stakeholders by understanding and addressing resistance is a foundational change management practice that builds buy-in.
What is the primary benefit of standardizing an improved process after a successful PDCA cycle?
Answer: It ensures the gains are maintained and provides a new baseline
Standardization (the 'Act' phase) locks in improvements, prevents regression to old methods, and establishes the new baseline for further improvements.
Which of the following BEST illustrates the concept of 'pull' in a Lean system?
Answer: A downstream process requesting materials only when needed
A pull system triggers production or material flow based on actual downstream demand, reducing overproduction and excess inventory.
A quality team uses a scatter diagram and finds a strong positive correlation between employee training hours and product defect rates decreasing. What conclusion is MOST appropriate?
Answer: There is a relationship between training and defect rates worth investigating further
Correlation indicates a statistical relationship but does not prove causation; further investigation is needed before concluding that training causes the improvement.