ASQ CQE (Certified Quality Engineer) Actual Exam
Questions and Verified Answers and Explanations —
100 Multiple-Choice Questions
Set 1: Process Control & Statistical Methods
1. A process has a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 2. What is the UCL for an X-bar
chart using 3 sigma?
A. 54
B. 55
C. 56
D. 57
Answer: C — 56.
Explanation: UCL = mean + 3σ = 50 + 3*2 = 56.**
2. Which control chart is best for monitoring defect counts per unit?
A. X-bar chart
B. P-chart
C. C-chart
D. R-chart
Answer: C — C-chart.
Explanation: C-chart is for count of defects per unit (attribute data).**
,3. What is Cpk if process mean is 101, USL = 110, LSL = 90, and σ = 3?
A. 0.67
B. 1.0
C. 1.22
D. 1.5
Answer: B — 1.0.
Explanation: Cpk = min[(USL-mean)/3σ, (mean-LSL)/3σ] = min[(110-101)/9, (101-
90)/9] = min[1, 1.22] = 1.0.**
4. A process shows long-term variation of 5 units. If subgroup size is 4, what is short-term
sigma?
A. 1.25
B. 2.5
C. 3.0
D. 5.0
Answer: B — 2.5 units.
Explanation: Short-term sigma = σLT / √n = 5/√4 = 2.5.**
5. What is the purpose of a Pareto chart?
A. Track process variation
B. Identify most frequent defects
C. Show causal relationships
D. Display cost analysis
Answer: B — Identify most frequent defects.
Explanation: Pareto charts prioritize problems using 80/20 principle.**
6. A histogram shows right-skewed data. Which measure is greatest?
A. Mean
B. Median
C. Mode
D. All equal
Answer: A — Mean.
Explanation: Right skew: mean > median > mode.**
7. A scatter plot is used to show what?
A. Distribution of a single variable
B. Correlation between two variables
C. Process capability
D. Control limits
Answer: B — Correlation between two variables.
Explanation: Scatter plots show relationships between two quantitative variables.**
8. What is repeatability in measurement systems?
A. Consistency across operators
B. Consistency of the instrument with same operator
C. Instrument calibration
D. Systematic error
Answer: B — Consistency of the instrument with same operator.
Explanation: Repeatability measures instrument consistency under same conditions.**
9. Which is a Type I error in hypothesis testing?
A. Rejecting a true null hypothesis
, B. Failing to reject a false null hypothesis
C. Rejecting a false null hypothesis
D. Using wrong sample size
Answer: A — Rejecting a true null hypothesis.
Explanation: Type I error = false positive.**
10. Which distribution models time between failures?
A. Normal
B. Poisson
C. Exponential
D. Binomial
Answer: C — Exponential.
Explanation: Exponential models time-to-event data.**
11. A process has MTBF = 1000 hrs. Failure rate λ?
A. 0.001 per hr
B. 0.01 per hr
C. 10 per hr
D. 100 per hr
Answer: A — 0.001 per hr.
Explanation: λ = 1/MTBF = 1/1000.**
12. High repeatability variance indicates what?
A. Different operators vary widely
B. Instrument inconsistency
C. Process variation negligible
D. R&R study invalid
Answer: B — Instrument inconsistency.
Explanation: Device produces variable measurements for same item.**
13. High bias in measurement system means?
A. Accurate but not precise
B. Consistent deviation from true value
C. High repeatability
D. Low reproducibility
Answer: B — Consistent deviation from true value.
Explanation: Bias is systematic error away from true measurement.**
14. RPN in FMEA = ?
A. Severity × Occurrence
B. Occurrence × Detection
C. Severity × Occurrence × Detection
D. Severity × Detection ÷ Occurrence
Answer: C — Severity × Occurrence × Detection.
Explanation: RPN quantifies risk in FMEA.**
15. Which control chart is for proportion defective?
A. X-bar chart
B. P-chart
C. R-chart
D. C-chart
Questions and Verified Answers and Explanations —
100 Multiple-Choice Questions
Set 1: Process Control & Statistical Methods
1. A process has a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 2. What is the UCL for an X-bar
chart using 3 sigma?
A. 54
B. 55
C. 56
D. 57
Answer: C — 56.
Explanation: UCL = mean + 3σ = 50 + 3*2 = 56.**
2. Which control chart is best for monitoring defect counts per unit?
A. X-bar chart
B. P-chart
C. C-chart
D. R-chart
Answer: C — C-chart.
Explanation: C-chart is for count of defects per unit (attribute data).**
,3. What is Cpk if process mean is 101, USL = 110, LSL = 90, and σ = 3?
A. 0.67
B. 1.0
C. 1.22
D. 1.5
Answer: B — 1.0.
Explanation: Cpk = min[(USL-mean)/3σ, (mean-LSL)/3σ] = min[(110-101)/9, (101-
90)/9] = min[1, 1.22] = 1.0.**
4. A process shows long-term variation of 5 units. If subgroup size is 4, what is short-term
sigma?
A. 1.25
B. 2.5
C. 3.0
D. 5.0
Answer: B — 2.5 units.
Explanation: Short-term sigma = σLT / √n = 5/√4 = 2.5.**
5. What is the purpose of a Pareto chart?
A. Track process variation
B. Identify most frequent defects
C. Show causal relationships
D. Display cost analysis
Answer: B — Identify most frequent defects.
Explanation: Pareto charts prioritize problems using 80/20 principle.**
6. A histogram shows right-skewed data. Which measure is greatest?
A. Mean
B. Median
C. Mode
D. All equal
Answer: A — Mean.
Explanation: Right skew: mean > median > mode.**
7. A scatter plot is used to show what?
A. Distribution of a single variable
B. Correlation between two variables
C. Process capability
D. Control limits
Answer: B — Correlation between two variables.
Explanation: Scatter plots show relationships between two quantitative variables.**
8. What is repeatability in measurement systems?
A. Consistency across operators
B. Consistency of the instrument with same operator
C. Instrument calibration
D. Systematic error
Answer: B — Consistency of the instrument with same operator.
Explanation: Repeatability measures instrument consistency under same conditions.**
9. Which is a Type I error in hypothesis testing?
A. Rejecting a true null hypothesis
, B. Failing to reject a false null hypothesis
C. Rejecting a false null hypothesis
D. Using wrong sample size
Answer: A — Rejecting a true null hypothesis.
Explanation: Type I error = false positive.**
10. Which distribution models time between failures?
A. Normal
B. Poisson
C. Exponential
D. Binomial
Answer: C — Exponential.
Explanation: Exponential models time-to-event data.**
11. A process has MTBF = 1000 hrs. Failure rate λ?
A. 0.001 per hr
B. 0.01 per hr
C. 10 per hr
D. 100 per hr
Answer: A — 0.001 per hr.
Explanation: λ = 1/MTBF = 1/1000.**
12. High repeatability variance indicates what?
A. Different operators vary widely
B. Instrument inconsistency
C. Process variation negligible
D. R&R study invalid
Answer: B — Instrument inconsistency.
Explanation: Device produces variable measurements for same item.**
13. High bias in measurement system means?
A. Accurate but not precise
B. Consistent deviation from true value
C. High repeatability
D. Low reproducibility
Answer: B — Consistent deviation from true value.
Explanation: Bias is systematic error away from true measurement.**
14. RPN in FMEA = ?
A. Severity × Occurrence
B. Occurrence × Detection
C. Severity × Occurrence × Detection
D. Severity × Detection ÷ Occurrence
Answer: C — Severity × Occurrence × Detection.
Explanation: RPN quantifies risk in FMEA.**
15. Which control chart is for proportion defective?
A. X-bar chart
B. P-chart
C. R-chart
D. C-chart
