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Quiz Session - Attempts With Random Questions

ASQ CSSGB Exam Questions

Page 10 of 50

181.

Which management theory pioneer proposed the concept of “sharpening the saw” as a way to renew physical, social/ emotional, spiritual, and mental skills?

  • Stephen R. Covey

  • Blake and Mouton

  • Douglas McGregor

  • Henri Fayol

Correct answer: Stephen R. Covey

As part of Stephen R. Covey’s Seven Habits model, “sharpening the saw” means exercising four elements of renewal, including physical, social/ emotional, spiritual, and mental skills.

Blake and Mouton proposed the Managerial Grid, based on a two-axis theory of leadership attention comparing the amount of focus on accomplishing a given task and the level of concern for people. Douglas McGregor expressed Theory X (an opinion that people do not want to work) versus Theory Y (people want to work and seek roles to solve problems that offer personal growth). Henri Fayol proposed classic organizational theory and 14 principles of management, including how power and authority should be subdivided into reporting relationships.

182.

What is the 95% confidence interval (Zα/2 = 1.96), from a sample of 35 customers where the average shopper at a store spends $75.28 and the standard deviation is $36.75?

  • 87.46 ≥ μ ≥ 63.10

  • 112.03 ≥ μ ≥ 38.53

  • 77.24 ≥ μ ≥ 73.32

  • 77.29 ≥ μ ≥ 73.27

Correct answer: 87.46 ≥ μ ≥ 63.10

The formula to calculate the confidence interval for the mean is x̄ ± Zα/2 (σ/√n). Here, this would be 75.28 ± 1.96(36.75/√35) = 75.28 ± 12.18 = 87.46 ≥ μ ≥ 63.10.

183.

In what phase of team dynamics does the team leader watch for any change in dynamics due to major changes in the project?

  • Performing

  • Norming

  • Storming

  • Forming

Correct answer: Performing

In the performing phase of team dynamics, the team leader watches for any change in dynamics due to major changes in the project. During the performing stage, the team leader will use a delegating leadership style, which includes a transition from the day-to-day direct leadership to monitoring the team's goals and performance.

During the norming stage, the leader would reduce his/her level of directive behavior. In the storming stage, the leader begins to give supportive behavior. In the forming stage, the leader provides close supervision and provides directive behavior.

184.

Which technique is used to manage nuisance factors that may affect the results of an experiment?

  • Blocking

  • Replication

  • Order

  • Efficiency

Correct answer: Blocking

Blocking is used to manage nuisance factors that may affect the results of an experiment. Reducing known variability is exactly what blocking does. Its principle lies in the fact that a variability that cannot be overcome is confounded or aliased with a(n) (higher/highest order) interaction to eliminate its influence on the end product.

Replication is used to remove systematic error. Order is the numeric progression in which a product or service is produced. Efficiency is the lowest possible variance from any estimator divided by the expected variance of the selected estimator.

185.

Lean is expected to transform an organization. How does lean transform an organization’s product or service design?

  • By emphasizing standardization and incremental changes to yield the benefits of continuity

  • By increasing flexibility and overall utilization to reduce the extreme spikes associated with demand shifts

  • By emphasizing work flow and incorporating multiple work cells

  • By demanding and promoting team-based cooperation of empowered, cross-trained practitioners

Correct answer: By emphasizing standardization and incremental changes to yield the benefits of continuity

Lean transforms an organization’s product or service design by emphasizing standardization and incremental changes to yield the benefits of continuity.

Lean transforms an organization’s capacity by increasing flexibility and overall utilization to reduce the extreme spikes associated with demand shifts. Lean transforms an organization’s system layout by emphasizing workflow and incorporating multiple work cells. Lean transforms an organization’s workforce by demanding and promoting team-based cooperation of empowered, cross-trained practitioners.

186.

What is the first step in conducting a process capability?

  • Perform measurement system analysis

  • Identify rational subgrouping of samples

  • Determine the level of randomness

  • Determine the level of variation

Correct answer: Perform measurement system analysis

The first step in conducting a process capability is to perform the measurement system analysis. Measurement system variation is determined to help in the process capability assessment.

Identify rational subgrouping of samples is incorrect because it is the second step. Determine the level of randomness is incorrect and not a part of process capability. Determine the level of variation is incorrect and determined in the last step.

187.

A work environment that is self-ordering, self-explaining, self-regulating, and self-improving is known as which of the following?

  • Visual workplace

  • Lean workplace

  • Deficit workplace

  • Strategic workplace

Correct answer: Visual workplace

A work environment that is self-ordering, self-explaining, self-regulating, and self-improving is known as a visual workplace. A visual workplace is a workplace that is in order, is able to explain itself through sharing vital information, is transparent through the use of high-impact/low-cost visual devices, and is improving upon itself by being aware of its performance. For example, a coffee shop might provide employees with a visual representation of what ingredients are used to create various complex drink flavors. 

Lean workplace, deficit workplace, and strategic workplace are not the terms used to describe a work environment that is self-ordering, self-explaining, self-regulating, and self-improving.

188.

In process improvement, the lack of a stable operating process is what?

  • Instability

  • Variation

  • Standard work

  • Fluctuation

Correct answer: Instability

In process improvement, the lack of a stable operating process is instability. In a situation of instability, cause and special cause variation are unchecked and are not responded to. The best method to monitor the level of instability is the use of process behavior charts.

Variation is incorrect because this does not explain the lack of a stable operating process. Standard work is incorrect because it applies to resource planning to determine efficient operations. Fluctuation is incorrect because it does not explain the lack of a stable operating process.

189.

You are analyzing employee data and find that 75% of employees live within 50 miles of the company’s headquarters. Which type of statistic is this data?

  • Descriptive

  • Inferential

  • Probability

  • Sequential

Correct answer: Descriptive

Descriptive statistics are used to describe a set of data. In this example, the set of data is the employee population, and the descriptive statistics are that 75 percent of that population live within 50 miles of headquarters.

Inferential statistics draw more general conclusions from data, such as if you have a sample of employees and you make a generalization about working people in a city based on the sample data gathered. Probability is the likelihood that an event or an outcome will happen given a specific action or a set of data. Sequential is a type of sampling and not a statistic.

190.

When conducting a Design FMEA, what would a green belt use when reviewing the design?

  • Schematic diagram

  • Flowchart

  • Cause-and-effect diagram

  • Nominal group technique

Correct answer: Schematic diagram

When conducting a Design FMEA, a green belt would use a schematic diagram when reviewing the design. The green belt may also choose to use a functional block diagram. These tools are used to identify each of the design's main components and to determine the component's function(s) and interfaces.

Flowchart is used when performing a Process FMEA when reviewing the process, not a Design FMEA. Cause-and-effect diagram and nominal group technique are both brainstorming tools that may or may not be used during the brainstorming step of Design FMEA.

191.

What best describes randomly selecting items from a population to test what the population includes?

  • Sampling

  • Randomness

  • Auditing

  • Interviews

Correct answer: Sampling

Sampling is a quality inspection method used to randomly check items (samples) from a population to ensure their quality.

Randomness is part of sampling and signifies that every part has an equal chance of being selected for a quality review. Auditing is an independent review of processes and projects compared to recognized plans and goals. Interviews are a method of gathering customer feedback that is conducted over the phone or in person, which provides a high level of accuracy.

192.

Which of the following is not a primary reason for a problem to be prioritized?

  • Problem is simple and quick to address

  • Problem is important and substantial

  • Resolving the problem contributes to the attainment of goals

  • Problem is defined clearly using objective measures

Correct answer: Problem is simple and quick to address

Identifying problems for improvement is not difficult, as there often are many more than can be analyzed. The quality council or work group must prioritize them using the following selection criteria:

1. Is the problem important and substantial? Why?

2. Will resolving the problem contribute to the attainment of goals?

3. Can the problem be defined clearly using objective measures?

"Problem is important and substantial", "Resolving the problem contributes to the attainment of goals" and "Problem is defined clearly using objective measures" are wrong because they are all primary considerations for prioritizing a problem.

193.

Independent variables are those manipulated by the experimenter. Dependent variables are considered what?

  • Response or output variables

  • Reply or input variables

  • Collaborative variables

  • Interrelated variables

Correct answer: Response or output variables

Independent variables are those manipulated by the experimenter, dependent variables are the response or output variables. The dependent variables are contingent upon the outcome of the independent variables. The dependent variable will not change unless the independent variable changes since the dependent variable is reliant on the independent variable.

Reply or input variables, collaborative variables, and interrelated variables are incorrect because they are not dependent variables.

194.

Correlation diagrams can show whether a cause and effect are related. The diagram shown indicates what type of correlation?

  • Strong positive correlation

  • Quasi-linear correlation

  • A log-normal correlation

  • Negative correlation

Correct answer: Strong positive correlation

The diagram shown indicates a strong positive correlation. In a strong positive correlation as determined by the Pearson Correlation Test, the values closely align with the graph of a line, which inclines on the x-axis from left to right in direction. When the value of one variable increases, the value of the other variable increases in a similar fashion.

Positive relationships have points that incline upwards to the right. As x values increase, y values increase. As x values decrease, y values decrease. For example, when studying plants, height typically increases as diameter increases.

Negative relationships have points that decline downward to the right. As x values increase, y values decrease. As x values decrease, y values increase. For example, as wind speed increases, wind chill temperature decreases.

Fitting data to a specific function, such as a log-normal function, is performed through specific statistical tests other than the Pearson Correlation Test.

195.

Which root cause analysis tool is used to compare what is intended to be improved and to refine the analysis in order to pinpoint where the defect source emerged?

  • Is/Is not comparative analysis

  • Root cause tree

  • Cause-and-effect relational matrix

  • Failure mode and effects analysis

Correct answer: Is/Is not comparative analysis

Is/Is not comparative analysis is used to compare what is intended to be improved and to refine the analysis in order to pinpoint where the defect source emerged. The Is/Is not comparative analysis is a tool that provides some insight on whether or not the issue is related to a special cause, such as operator error or deficient raw material.

The root cause tree combines the fishbone diagram and the 5 whys methods in order to provide the ability to analyze the interactions among the causes of the issue. The cause-and-effect relational matrix is used to quantify and prioritize the impacts of causes (X) on effects (Y) through numerical ranking. A failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) is used to recognize and evaluate the potential failure of a product and its effects, identify the actions that could eliminate or reduce the occurrence of the potential failure, and document the process.

196.

What is the running of trials under the same machine setups?

  • Repetition

  • Replication

  • Randomization

  • Planned grouping

Correct answer: Repetition

Repetition is the running of trials under the same machine setups. The variation due to machine setup cannot be captured with repetition. It must be done through replication where each trial is reset.

Replication is the repeated observations that reduce measurement error. Randomization is incorrect because randomization organizes the experiment in Six Sigma combinations of chance, which improve the statistical validity. Planned grouping is a practice to promote uniformity within blocks and minimize the effect of unwanted variables.

197.

The diameter of a metal pipe measured at the top, middle, and bottom shows a difference at the top of the part measured during the same shift. What should you do next?

  • Investigate causes of within-part variation

  • Brainstorm differences between shifts

  • Look for causes of part-to-part variation

  • Consider the differences over time

Correct answer: Investigate causes of within-part variation

When a part shows a noted difference at various points of measurement, this is within part variation. The next step is to investigate the root causes of this type of variation.

This is not an example of shift-to-shift or temporal variation, part-to-part variation, or variation occurring over time.

198.

When calculating a Z-test, what does n represent? 

  • Number of samples

  • Sample average

  • Standard deviation of a population

  • Sample mean

Correct answer: Number of samples

When calculating a Z-test, n represents the number of samples in the equation Z = (x̄ - μ0)/ σx̄ =  (X - μ0) / (σx / √n).

Sample average is represented by x̄. Standard deviation of a population is shown by σ. Sample mean is shown by μ.

199.

When performing control chart interpretation, a “1 in 20 violation” occurs when more than 1 point in 20 falls where?

  • Within the outer 33 percent of the control chart

  • Within the center of the control chart between LCL and UCL

  • Within the LCL limits

  • Within the outer 25 percent of the control chart

Correct answer: Within the outer 33 percent of the control chart

When performing control chart interpretation, a “1 in 20 violation” occurs when more than 1 point in 20 falls within the outer 33 percent of the control chart. This might indicate some type of special cause creating sudden high variation. A run violation occurs when seven or more consecutive points are on one side of the centerline. A trend violation occurs with an upward or downward movement of five or more consecutive points.

When performing control chart interpretation, a “1 in 20 violation” does not occur when more than 1 point in 20 falls within the center of the control chart between LCL and UCL, within the LCL limits, or within the outer 25 percent of the control chart.

200.

The method or process of finding out what the customer actually thinks of products or services is known as which of the following?

  • Feedback

  • Interviewing

  • User requirements

  • Customer service

Correct answer: Feedback

Feedback is the method or process of finding out what the customer actually thinks of products or services. Feedback is used to define the problem within the define phase of the DMAIC model and involves survey techniques and interviews. While interviews is one component of feedback, it by itself does not constitute all forms of feedback.

User requirements is not a process; it is the items needed in order to make a process work.

Customer service is not a process to find out what the customer thinks of products or services; it is a service provided by organizations to handle customer issues.

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