Sample Questions

1. From an upper management perspective, what has been the principal

motivating factor in embracing six sigma?

a. Bottom line results

b. Market share growth
c. Defect reductions
d. Customer focus

2. The SIPOC business model provides all of the following benefits, EXCEPT:

a. Providing a framework applicable to processes of all sizes

b. Identifying the few key business customers
c. Displaying cross-function activities in simple terms
d. Helping maintain the big business picture

3. In most cases, an improvement team receives the least control and direction
during which of the following stages?

a. Forming
b. Storming
c. Performing
d. Norming

4. Which of the new quality management tools is used to organize facts and
data about an unfamiliar subject or problem?

a. The affinity diagram

b. The header technique
c. The AND diagram
d. Matrix diagram

5. The purpose of "rolled throughput yield" in the six sigma define step would
include all of the following, EXCEPT:

a. Spotting significant differences in yield

b. Providing a baseline metric
c. Using the calculation for customer analysis
d. Analyzing a process flow for improvement ideas
6. Flowcharting of activities and systems is most helpful in detecting:

a. Inappropriate use of resources

b. Deficiencies in the organizational structure
c. FMEA risk areas
d. Improper use of statistical methods

7. A null hypothesis requires several assumptions, a basic one of which is:

a. That the variables are significant

b. The variables are independent
c. That the sample size is adequate
d. That the confidence interval is ± 2 standard deviations

8. Which three of the following four techniques could easily be used to display
the same data?

I. Stem and leaf plots

II. Boxplots
III. Scatter diagrams
IV. Histograms

a. I, II, and III only

b. I, II, and IV only
c. I, III, and IV only
d. II, III, and IV only

9. In the regression equation y = mx + b, y increases with x in all cases:

a. If b is positive
b. If b is negative
c. If m is positive
d. If m is negative

10. If a sample size of 16 yields an average of 12 and standard deviation of 3,

estimate the 95% confidence interval for the population (assume a normal
distribution).

a. 10.40 < µ < 13.60

b. 10.45 < µ <13.55
c. 10.53 < µ <13.47
d. 10.77 < µ <13.23
11. A technique used to measure the degree of interdependence between two
random variables is:

a. Regression analysis
b. Hypothesis testing
c. Correlation analysis
d. Sampling

12. In a full factorial experimental design, factors A and B are both tested at 4
levels. How many experiments are conducted?

a. 8
b. 9
c. 12
d. 16

13. The smallest run number possible to examine the main effects of 22 factors
at 2 levels is:

a. 23
b. 24
c. 44
d. 56

14. The main difference between traditional kaizen and the kaizen blitz
approach is:

a. The number of people involved

b. The pace of the change effort
c. The amount of floor space saved
d. The commitment level of management

15. In a hypothetical situation, if all within time, piece to piece, and

measurement variation were removed from a process, what would be left?

a. Nothing it would all be eliminated

b. Inherent process variation
c. Product spread
d. Time to time variation

16. Overproduction, scrap, waiting, and excess motion are all forms of:
a. TPM
b. Muda
c. Kanban
d. CFM

17. Consider the following definition: "The best combination of machines and
people working together to produce a product or service at a particular point in
time." What lean concept is being described?

a. Standard work
b. A future state map
c. The value stream
d. Ultimate cycle time

18. Which of the following is NOT a widely recognized topic area for DFX?

a. Design for profit

b. Design for assembly
c. Design for reliability
d. Design for appearance

1. a, 2. b, 3. c, 4. a, 5. c, 6. a, 7. b, 8. b, 9. c

10. a, 11. c, 12. d, 13. b, 14. b, 15. b, 16. b, 17. a, 18. a