FREE Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Root Cause Analysis Questions and Answers

Question 1

A project team is brainstorming the potential causes of a product defect. To visually organize these potential causes into logical categories such as People, Process, and Equipment, which tool would be most effective?

Accepted Answer

Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram

Answer

A Fishbone Diagram, also known as a Cause-and-Effect or Ishikawa Diagram, is specifically designed to help teams brainstorm and categorize the potential causes of a problem, making it easy to see the relationships between different factors.

Question 2

An IT team is investigating why a software application crashes frequently. The lead analyst asks, "Why did the application crash?" and the team determines it was due to a memory leak. The lead then asks, "Why was there a memory leak?" This iterative, questioning approach is a direct application of which root cause analysis technique?

Accepted Answer

5 Whys

Answer

The 5 Whys technique is a simple but powerful tool used to explore the cause-and-effect relationships underlying a problem by repeatedly asking the question "Why?" until the fundamental cause is identified.

Question 3

Which of the following statements best describes the primary objective of Root Cause Analysis (RCA) in the Analyze phase of DMAIC?

Accepted Answer

To identify, verify, and address the fundamental cause of a problem to prevent its recurrence.

Answer

The core purpose of RCA is to move beyond fixing symptoms and identify the true, underlying cause of an issue. By addressing the problem at its source, the solution will be more effective and prevent the problem from happening again.

Question 4

During a root cause analysis session, a team generates over 30 potential causes for an increase in customer complaints. What is the most logical and effective *next step*?

Accepted Answer

Use data and team expertise to prioritize the most likely causes for further investigation.

Answer

After brainstorming a large number of potential causes, the next critical step is to narrow down the list to the 'vital few' that are most likely contributing to the problem. This is done by using data, process knowledge, and prioritization tools to focus investigative efforts effectively.

Question 5

A key principle of effective Root Cause Analysis is distinguishing between symptoms and the actual root cause. Which of the following is the best example of a symptom?

Accepted Answer

A high rate of product returns from customers.

Answer

A high rate of product returns is a symptom—an observable outcome or indicator that a problem exists. The other options (improper calibration, incorrect instructions, lack of maintenance) are potential root causes that could lead to the symptom of high returns.

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification Practice Test

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification Practice Test

FREE Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Root Cause Analysis Questions and Answers