CQIA Process Analysis & Improvement Techniques 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which tool would a team use to systematically generate a large number of improvement ideas from multiple team members simultaneously?
- Control chart
- Brainstorming (Correct answer)
- Scatter diagram
- Gage R&R study
Correct answer: Brainstorming
Brainstorming is a structured idea-generation technique designed to produce many ideas from a group quickly without initial criticism.
Question 2: A Kaizen event differs from a standard improvement project primarily because it:
- Requires statistical analysis of large data sets
- Is a rapid, focused improvement activity completed in days (Correct answer)
- Is led exclusively by senior management
- Requires capital investment approval before starting
Correct answer: Is a rapid, focused improvement activity completed in days
A Kaizen event (blitz) is an intensive, short-duration team effort — typically 3–5 days — to make rapid, targeted improvements.
Question 3: In a process capability study, a Cp of 1.33 indicates that:
- The process is centered on the target but barely meets specifications
- The process spread fits within the specification limits with margin (Correct answer)
- The process is not capable of meeting specifications
- The process mean is shifted from the target
Correct answer: The process spread fits within the specification limits with margin
A Cp of 1.33 means the specification width is 1.33 times the process spread (±4σ), providing comfortable margin within spec limits.
Question 4: Which of the following describes the purpose of a 'spaghetti diagram' in process analysis?
- To map cause-and-effect relationships for a defect
- To trace the physical movement path of a product or person (Correct answer)
- To display process data over time for trend analysis
- To rank improvement priorities by cost and impact
Correct answer: To trace the physical movement path of a product or person
A spaghetti diagram traces the actual physical path traveled by a product, person, or information, revealing unnecessary motion waste.
Question 5: A team is selecting among five potential improvement solutions. They rate each solution on feasibility, impact, and cost using a numerical scale. This technique is called:
- Force field analysis
- Failure mode and effects analysis
- Weighted criteria matrix (decision matrix) (Correct answer)
- Affinity diagram
Correct answer: Weighted criteria matrix (decision matrix)
A weighted criteria matrix scores each option against defined criteria with assigned weights, providing an objective basis for selection.
Question 6: In force field analysis, 'restraining forces' are best described as:
- Factors that drive the change forward
- Factors that resist or hinder the change (Correct answer)
- Resources required to implement the change
- Stakeholders who support the improvement
Correct answer: Factors that resist or hinder the change
Restraining forces oppose the desired change; reducing them (along with strengthening driving forces) is the goal of force field analysis.
Question 7: Which process analysis metric measures the percentage of time a process is actually adding value relative to total lead time?
- Process efficiency (value-added ratio) (Correct answer)
- First pass yield
- Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)
- Defects per million opportunities (DPMO)
Correct answer: Process efficiency (value-added ratio)
Process efficiency (value-added ratio) = value-added time / total lead time, revealing how much of the elapsed time is truly productive.
CQIA Process Analysis & Improvement Techniques 4
Which tool would a team use to systematically generate a large number of improvement ideas from multiple team members simultaneously?