Process Improvement Flashcards

Which of the following describes a 'process owner' in a quality improvement effort?

Answer: The person accountable for the performance and improvement of a specific process

A process owner is the individual accountable for the end-to-end performance of a specific process, including its improvement.

A team discovers that a process step adds cost but no value from the customer's perspective. This step is best categorized as:

Answer: Non-value-added and unnecessary

Steps that add cost without adding customer value and are not required by regulation or business necessity are pure waste to be eliminated.

Which phase of PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) involves evaluating whether the implemented change achieved the desired results?

Answer: Check

The 'Check' phase compares results against the planned objectives to determine if the change was effective.

A scatter diagram shows a strong positive correlation between two variables. This means:

Answer: As one variable increases, the other tends to increase

A positive correlation means both variables tend to increase together, though correlation alone does not establish causation.

Which of the following is the primary purpose of a project charter in a quality improvement project?

Answer: To formally define the project scope, goals, team, and timeline

A project charter formally authorizes the project and defines its scope, objectives, team members, and expected timeline.

What is 'takt time' in lean manufacturing?

Answer: The available production time divided by customer demand rate

Takt time is the available production time divided by customer demand, setting the pace at which products must be produced to meet demand.

A quality improvement team is implementing a change and wants to ensure the gains are maintained. Which tool is most useful for this purpose?

Answer: Control chart

Control charts monitor process performance over time to detect special causes and ensure gains are sustained after improvements.