Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Practice
Exam Questions with Correct Answers
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
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.
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.
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.
,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.
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.
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."
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 - Answer-c. Juran
Juran's Trilogy a consists of three processes: quality planning, quality control, and
quality improvement. The quality improvement phase would certainly be considered a
project approach to improvement.
Identify the quality guru who believed the best approach to understanding the purpose
of a quality system would be the four absolutes of management:
a. Dr. Feigenbaum
b. Philip Crosby
c. Dr. Deming
d. Dr. Juran - Answer-b. Phillip Crosby
The four absolutes of quality management are part of Phillip Crosby's message.
If you choose to look at any business enterprise on a main level basis, which of the
following categories would be integrated into other KPIV and KPOV areas?
a. Process
b. Operations
c. Business
d. Technological - Answer-d. Technological
Although the variables themselves may differ, process, operations, and business levels
have key input and output variables and identified as such. A technological level is not
separately identified. It is integrated into the major three categories.
Why has Six Sima been successful for many organizations?
a. Bottom line results are enhanced
b. A +/- 1.5 sigma shift is included
c. An undisciplined approach is used
d. Sound statistical approaches are eliminated - Answer-a. Bottom line results are
enhanced
The +/- 1.5 sigma shift is only a small part of Six Sigma. Answer b is thus eliminated.
The opposite of answers c and d are true.
Why is Six Sigma called TQM on steroids?
a. Because of the extensive training element required
b. Because of the inclusion of statistical and lean tools
c. Because of the heavy impact of top management support
d. Because of the impact of cost savings on the bottom line - Answer-b. Because of the
inclusion of statistical and lean tools
The steroid quote comes from the inclusion of statistical items such as DOE, DFSS,
statistical analysis, and certain lean manufacturing tools.
, In what areas would upper management be most helpful in the initiation of a Six Sigma
effort?
a. Providing direct training to black belts
b. Standardizing business operations
c. Providing key resources to the organization
d. Directing the improvement projects - Answer-c. Providing key resources to the
organization
In Six Sigma, as in more other strategic initiatives, upper management functions best by
providing overall direction and resources. Upper management probably doesn't have
the skills to provide black belt training and should not personally direct the improvement
projects. Standardizing businesses operations makes sense only if they are at the best
level possible.
According to Pande, which of the following is a legitimate reason for embracing a Six
Sigma effort?
a. The company currently has an effective improvement effort
b. Current changes are overwhelming the company resources
c. Potential gains aren't sufficient to fund six sigma
d. There are difficulties in meeting customer requirements - Answer-d. There are
difficulties in meeting customer requirements
Pande suggests that answers a, b, and c are valid reasons to not undertake Six Sigma
improvement. Answer d is a valid reason to undertake Six Sigma.
The concept behind PDCA is:
a. The Deming/Shewhart cycle
b. Process flow
c. Continuous improvement
d. Satisfying suppliers - Answer-c. Continuous improvement
The key question phrase is "concept behind." Answer b is inappropriate and does not fit
the question. Answer a would be correct if the question requested another name for
PDCA. Answer d could be one of a number of potential positive outcomes of this
activity. However, the concept behind and objective of PDCA is one of continuous
improvement.
Why is the PDCA cycle so readily accepted by most American teams and individuals?
a. It is the natural way that most people already approach problems
b. it was promoted by Dr. Deming who has a wide American following
c. It has been widely used in Japan with success
d. It requires much less work than comparable improvement techniques - Answer-a. It is
the natural way that most people already approach problems
