Question 1
An organized and disciplined approach to problem solving in most six sigma organizations is
called:
a. SIPOC
b. DMAIC
c.. PDCA
d. DPMO
ANSWER
B. DMAIC
Question 2
Using Six Sigma methodology, a company at 4.5 sigma would have a failure rate of:
a. 3.4 ppm
b. 233 ppm
c. 1350 ppm
d. 6210
ANSWER
c. 1350 ppm
The Six Sigma approach allows for a +/- 1.5 sigma shift. Answer b represents the 5 sigma
level and answer d the 4 sigma level.
1
,Question 3
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
ANSWER
a. Bottom line results
Phil Crosby once stated that upper management is interested in money, making money, and
not losing money. He said there must be something else, but he never got that far in
conversations with them. Answers b, c, and d, should be considered subsets of answer a.
Question 4
An advantage of training managers in Six Sigma concepts before improvement team
members is which of the following?
a. Managers have more time available for training
b. Managers must lead the deployment of Six Sigma
c. Managers must understand the concepts better than the team members
d. Managers must pay for worker training
ANSWER
b. Managers must lead the deployment of Six Sigma
Managers normally have as much as (or more) time pressure as the other employees. Thus,
answer a is untrue. Managers must lead the effort, validate the training, and understand the
quality concepts. They don't necessarily need to understand the concepts better than the
team members. Answer d may be true, but it fails to address the question.
2
,Question 5
In highly effective Six Sigma companies, most employees receive some training. What group
is most likely to receive sponsorship training?
a. Senior management
b. Master black belt candidates
c. Black belt candidates
d. Green belt candidates
ANSWER
a. Senior management
Sponsorship training is normally given to upper management. Master black belt, black
belt, and green belt candidates receive more extensive technical instruction.
Question 6
A company struggling with low performance in terms of quality, profitability, and
productivity is considering Six Sigma initiative. A decision to proceed would be considered:
a. Smart, they have a lot of low lying fruit
b. Unwise, they probably can't afford the effort
c. Unwise, they need to attend to basic activities first
d. Smart, they obviously need the Six Sigma structure
ANSWER
c. Unwise, they need to attend to basic activities
Most authorities agree that the company in question should consider more fundamental
building blocks first.
3
, Question 7
Out of Dr. Deming's 14 points for management states "Cease dependence upon inspection
as a way to achieve quality." The underlying tenet of this statement is which of the
following?
a. Many American companies employ too many inspectors; perhaps 5% - 10% of the work
force
b. Quality should be built into the product, not inspected in
c. In most cases, the worker should perform his/her own inspection and not rely on
someone else
d. Many manual inspections will miss 10% - 20% of defects under typical working conditions
ANSWER
b. Quality should be built into the product, not expected in
This question requests the underlying tenet or real reason that inspection dependence
should be minimized or eliminated. Answers a, c, and d are true statements in many
circumstances. They explain or expand some of the weaknesses or facts present during
product inspection. However, answer b explains the question best. If quality is built into the
product, then it doesn't matter if inspection misses a defect. The defect isn't there.
Inspection to improve quality is too late, ineffective, and costly. Harold F. Dodge said "You
cannot inspect quality into a product."
Question 8
Which of the following quality luminaries would most clearly identified as a proponent of
improvement and breakthrough project?
a. Ishikawa
b. Deming
c. Juran
d. Crosby
4
An organized and disciplined approach to problem solving in most six sigma organizations is
called:
a. SIPOC
b. DMAIC
c.. PDCA
d. DPMO
ANSWER
B. DMAIC
Question 2
Using Six Sigma methodology, a company at 4.5 sigma would have a failure rate of:
a. 3.4 ppm
b. 233 ppm
c. 1350 ppm
d. 6210
ANSWER
c. 1350 ppm
The Six Sigma approach allows for a +/- 1.5 sigma shift. Answer b represents the 5 sigma
level and answer d the 4 sigma level.
1
,Question 3
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
ANSWER
a. Bottom line results
Phil Crosby once stated that upper management is interested in money, making money, and
not losing money. He said there must be something else, but he never got that far in
conversations with them. Answers b, c, and d, should be considered subsets of answer a.
Question 4
An advantage of training managers in Six Sigma concepts before improvement team
members is which of the following?
a. Managers have more time available for training
b. Managers must lead the deployment of Six Sigma
c. Managers must understand the concepts better than the team members
d. Managers must pay for worker training
ANSWER
b. Managers must lead the deployment of Six Sigma
Managers normally have as much as (or more) time pressure as the other employees. Thus,
answer a is untrue. Managers must lead the effort, validate the training, and understand the
quality concepts. They don't necessarily need to understand the concepts better than the
team members. Answer d may be true, but it fails to address the question.
2
,Question 5
In highly effective Six Sigma companies, most employees receive some training. What group
is most likely to receive sponsorship training?
a. Senior management
b. Master black belt candidates
c. Black belt candidates
d. Green belt candidates
ANSWER
a. Senior management
Sponsorship training is normally given to upper management. Master black belt, black
belt, and green belt candidates receive more extensive technical instruction.
Question 6
A company struggling with low performance in terms of quality, profitability, and
productivity is considering Six Sigma initiative. A decision to proceed would be considered:
a. Smart, they have a lot of low lying fruit
b. Unwise, they probably can't afford the effort
c. Unwise, they need to attend to basic activities first
d. Smart, they obviously need the Six Sigma structure
ANSWER
c. Unwise, they need to attend to basic activities
Most authorities agree that the company in question should consider more fundamental
building blocks first.
3
, Question 7
Out of Dr. Deming's 14 points for management states "Cease dependence upon inspection
as a way to achieve quality." The underlying tenet of this statement is which of the
following?
a. Many American companies employ too many inspectors; perhaps 5% - 10% of the work
force
b. Quality should be built into the product, not inspected in
c. In most cases, the worker should perform his/her own inspection and not rely on
someone else
d. Many manual inspections will miss 10% - 20% of defects under typical working conditions
ANSWER
b. Quality should be built into the product, not expected in
This question requests the underlying tenet or real reason that inspection dependence
should be minimized or eliminated. Answers a, c, and d are true statements in many
circumstances. They explain or expand some of the weaknesses or facts present during
product inspection. However, answer b explains the question best. If quality is built into the
product, then it doesn't matter if inspection misses a defect. The defect isn't there.
Inspection to improve quality is too late, ineffective, and costly. Harold F. Dodge said "You
cannot inspect quality into a product."
Question 8
Which of the following quality luminaries would most clearly identified as a proponent of
improvement and breakthrough project?
a. Ishikawa
b. Deming
c. Juran
d. Crosby
4
