CQIA Process Improvement 4

Question 1

Which of the following best describes 'continuous improvement' (kaizen)?

Accepted Answer

Small, incremental improvements made on an ongoing basis

Answer

Kaizen, the Japanese concept of continuous improvement, emphasizes small, ongoing positive changes that accumulate over time.

Question 2

A team wants to test whether a change in raw material supplier affects defect rates. The most appropriate approach is:

Accepted Answer

A designed experiment (DOE)

Answer

Design of Experiments (DOE) allows teams to systematically test the effect of one or more variables on a process output.

Question 3

In lean thinking, which of the 8 wastes involves producing more than what the customer currently needs?

Accepted Answer

Overproduction

Answer

Overproduction is considered the worst lean waste because it leads to excess inventory and often hides other types of waste.

Question 4

A process improvement team sets a goal to reduce invoice errors from 5% to 1% within 90 days. This is an example of a:

Accepted Answer

SMART goal

Answer

SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound — this goal meets all five criteria.

Question 5

Which tool would best help a team prioritize which problems to address first based on their frequency and impact?

Accepted Answer

Pareto chart

Answer

A Pareto chart ranks problems by frequency or impact, helping teams focus on the vital few issues that cause the most harm.

(CQIA) ASQ Certified Quality Improvement Associate Practice Test