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
Which statement BEST describes how continuous improvement differs from traditional quality inspection?
Answer: Continuous improvement focuses on preventing defects and improving processes; inspection detects defects after the fact
Continuous improvement is proactive, targeting process improvement to prevent defects, whereas traditional inspection is reactive, finding defects after they occur.
A process has been running in statistical control for three months. Management wants to reduce variation further. What is the MOST appropriate next step?
Answer: Investigate and change the process itself to address common causes
When a process is in statistical control, further variation reduction requires changing the process system (common cause variation), not reacting to individual data points.
Which of the following is the BEST example of an 'improvement suggestion system' supporting continuous improvement culture?
Answer: A formal system where employees regularly submit ideas that are reviewed and implemented quickly
Effective suggestion systems are accessible to all employees, provide timely feedback, and create a habit of continuous idea generation and implementation.
A hospital wants to improve patient discharge speed. Using a value stream map, the team discovers that 40% of discharge time is spent waiting for physician signatures. This waiting time is an example of:
Answer: Pure waste that should be eliminated or reduced
Waiting for signatures adds no value to the patient and represents a waste of time that should be eliminated through process redesign or delegation.
Which of the following BEST explains why management commitment is essential for successful continuous improvement programs?
Answer: Management provides resources, removes barriers, and sets the cultural tone for improvement
Management commitment signals organizational priority, allocates resources, removes systemic barriers, and models the behaviors needed for a continuous improvement culture.
A team tracking defect rates notices the data follows a non-normal distribution with many zero-defect days and occasional high-defect days. What type of variation does this MOST likely represent?
Answer: Special cause variation that needs investigation
Rare high-defect days amid mostly zero-defect performance suggest special causes — assignable events that deviate from the normal process and warrant investigation.
What is the purpose of a 'lessons learned' review at the end of a continuous improvement project?
Answer: To capture knowledge that can be applied to future improvement projects
Lessons learned sessions capture successful practices and pitfalls from a completed project so the organization can replicate successes and avoid repeating mistakes.