TS Continuous Improvement Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A test manager uses a cumulative flow diagram (CFD). What does a widening band in the 'In Testing' stage indicate?
- Throughput is increasing
- Work is accumulating and cycle time is growing (Correct answer)
- Defect density is decreasing
- Test automation coverage is rising
Correct answer: Work is accumulating and cycle time is growing
A widening band in a CFD stage shows that work items are piling up there, signaling growing cycle time and a bottleneck.
Question 2: Which Six Sigma role is typically responsible for leading Black Belt projects and mentoring improvement teams across an organization?
- Green Belt
- Master Black Belt (Correct answer)
- Champion
- Yellow Belt
Correct answer: Master Black Belt
Master Black Belts are the highest-level Six Sigma practitioners, responsible for leading complex projects and coaching Black Belts.
Question 3: When applying the 5S methodology in a test lab, which step involves establishing standards and procedures to maintain the improved state?
- Sort (Seiri)
- Set in order (Seiton)
- Standardize (Seiketsu) (Correct answer)
- Sustain (Shitsuke)
Correct answer: Standardize (Seiketsu)
Standardize (Seiketsu) is the fourth S, focused on creating documented standards and schedules to maintain the gains from the first three steps.
Question 4: A test organization wants to benchmark its defect removal efficiency against industry peers. Which source would provide the most relevant data?
- Internal project retrospective notes
- CISQ or SEI published benchmarking reports (Correct answer)
- Individual developer performance reviews
- Sprint velocity charts
Correct answer: CISQ or SEI published benchmarking reports
Industry bodies like CISQ and SEI publish benchmark data on software quality metrics, including defect removal efficiency across organizations.
Question 5: In a Value Stream Map, a 'push' system between test stages is characterized by which behavior?
- Work is pulled only when downstream capacity is available
- Work is sent to the next stage regardless of its readiness (Correct answer)
- Batch sizes are reduced to one item at a time
- Kanban signals authorize each handoff
Correct answer: Work is sent to the next stage regardless of its readiness
In a push system, work is forwarded to the next stage based on schedules or availability of the sender, not the readiness of the receiver.
Question 6: Which improvement technique involves having operators stop a production or testing line immediately when a defect is detected, preventing defect propagation?
- Andon
- Jidoka (Correct answer)
- Heijunka
- Gemba walk
Correct answer: Jidoka
Jidoka (autonomation) is the Lean/Toyota principle of building in the ability to detect and stop at the point of defect to prevent passing defects downstream.
Question 7: A team implements error-proofing in its test case entry form to prevent invalid date formats from being submitted. This is an example of which technique?
- Statistical sampling
- Poka-yoke (Correct answer)
- Control charting
- Affinity diagramming
Correct answer: Poka-yoke
Poka-yoke (mistake-proofing) refers to mechanisms that make it impossible or immediately obvious when an error occurs, such as input validation.
TS Continuous Improvement Techniques 3
A test manager uses a cumulative flow diagram (CFD).
What does a widening band in the 'In Testing' stage indicate?