Management 3710

Fall, 2002
Sample Questions for Exam 3
These are questions that are intended to give some idea about the type of questions that will be asked on the first
exam. Please keep this in mind; these questions are not intended to be a complete review of the assigned material or
to substitute for reading and understanding the assigned material.
CHAPTER 11
QUALITY CONTROL
TRUE-FALSE
1. The scope of a quality assurance system is restricted to activities related to final inspection and testing.
2.

Fixed gauges are used for attribute inspections.

3.

It is possible for a measurement system to be precise but not accurate.

4.

Calibration requires a standard.

5.

Data for process control generally comes from some type of measurement or inspection.

6.

Variable gauges are used in go and no-go inspections.

7.

In acceptance sampling, only those items in a lot found to be nonconforming are rejected.

8.

If there is no variation in incoming materials, there will be no variation in subsequent production processes.

MULTIPLE CHOICE
9. ______ is the activity of conformance to requirements and taking corrective action when necessary to correct
problems and maintain conformance to requirements.
a. Planning
b. Control
c. Improvement
d. Management
10. Which of the following is a useful tool for identifying special causes of variation in a process?
a. control charts
b. measurement gauges
c. affinity diagrams
d. scatter plots
11. Selecting a fixed percentage of units from each lot for inspection is known as
a. spot checking.
b. acceptance sampling.
c. receiving inspection.
d. go/no go assessment.
12. Which of the following is NOT true about 100 percent inspection?
a. It is essentially a sorting method.
b. It is usually costly for large lot sizes.
c. It eliminates the concern for false results.
d. It is frequently impractical when destructive tests are required.

13. All of the following are variable gauges except

a. dial gauges.
b. optical gauges.
c. plug gauges.
d. line-graduated gauges.
14. The science of measurement is known as
a. calibration.
b. metrology.
c. standardization.
d. instrumentation.
15. The comparison of a measurement device or system having a known relation to recognized standards to another
device or system whose relationship to the recognized standard is unknown is called
a. standardization.
b. instrumentation.
c. repeatability.
d. calibration.
16. Two quality characteristics of services that are commonly and easily measured are
a. time and number of nonconformances.
b. durability and time.
c. durability and product features.
d. serviceability and durability.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
17. Identify and explain the three components of a control system. Provide an example.
18. Is there a difference between accuracy and precision? Explain, using pictures or diagrams as appropriate. Can
an instrument be highly precise and still not be desirable? Explain.
CHAPTER 12
STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL
TRUE-FALSE
1. Pre-control is used for short production runs, and when recording and charting are not practical.
2.

A Type I error occurs when an incorrect conclusion is reached that a special cause is present when in fact one
does not exist.

3.

A histogram of data that resembles the normal distribution indicates that the process is in control.

4.

An out-of-control value on the X-bar chart implies that the process mean has shifted.

5.

Control limits are the same as specification limits.

6.

If all sample averages on an X-bar chart fall within the control limits, all output will be conforming.

7.

SPC is a tool for determining when and if special causes are present in a process.

8.

Process control and process capability are synonymous terms.

MULTIPLE CHOICE
9. Which of the following charts is used to monitor the total number of defects per unit when a constant subgroup
size is employed?
a. moving range chart
b. c-chart
c. p-chart
d. np-chart
10. An alternative to using the R-chart is the
a. np-chart.
b. s-chart.
c. c-chart.
d. p-chart.
12. Designing products for efficient production at the highest level of quality embodies the essence of
a. quality function deployment.
b. design for manufacturability.
c. just-in-time manufacturing.
d. kaizen.
13. The following two types of charts should always be used together
a. X-bar and equal sample size p-chart.
b. R and equal sample size p-chart.
c. R and unequal sample size p-chart.
d. X-bar and R-chart.
14. Which of the following would be used to monitor the number of nonconforming items?
a. np-chart
b. p-chart
c. u-chart
d. c-chart
15. If the traditional three-sigma limits on a control chart are replaced by two-sigma limits, which of the following
is true?
a. The probability of a Type I error decreases.
b. The probability Type II error increases.
c. The center line decreases.
d. The probability of a Type I error increases.
16.

If the sample size in a p-chart increases from 100 to 120, the upper and lower control limits will
a. move farther apart.
b. move closer together.
c. remain the same distance from each other.
d. both shift upward by an identical amount.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
17. A process fills boxes with detergent. Construct an appropriate set of control charts to monitor the process.
Historical data for fill weight (in ounces) of eight samples is presented below. A sample size of six was used.
Sample
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Sample Mean
15.80
16.10
16.02
15.95
16.12
16.18
15.87
16.20

Sample Range
0.42
0.38
0.08
0.15
0.42
0.23
0.36
0.40

18. A quality engineer takes 40 samples of 100 transistors each from the output of an assembly line. Each transistor
is tested and the number of defectives in each sample is recorded in the table below.
Number Defective
Sample
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

3
2
1
4
0
2
0
5
1
2
2
1
3
3
4
5
3
3
1
8

Number Defective
Sample
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40

1
2
2
3
4
1
2
4
0
4
3
2
4
2
1
1
3
4
4
2

CHAPTER 14
BUILDING AND SUSTAINING
TOTAL QUALITY ORGANIZATIONS
TRUE-FALSE
1. Many firms decide to adopt a total quality approach as the result of competitive pressures from rivals.
2.

Organizational self-assessments facilitate organizational learning.

3.

Implementing total quality program has proven difficult due to the complex statistical tools required.

4.

Empirical evidence suggests that successful implementation of total quality initiatives is usually completed
inside 12 months.

5.

A companys culture is reflected in the behavior of its people.

6.

One common mistake that leads to unsuccessful implementation of total quality is excessive emphasis on the
customer.

7.

According to the total quality approach, everyone inside the enterprise is a customer of an internal or external
supplier.

8.

Most organizations have little difficulty accepting change.

MULTIPLE CHOICE
9. Managers that review the companys current quality practices and procedures before implementing total quality
practices are practicing
a. group conscious.
b. due diligence.
c. self assessment.
d. external audit.
10. Increasing levels of teamwork and participation tends to benefit which type of organization the most?
a. low performers
b. medium performers
c. high performers
d. all organizations benefits equally
11. Which of the following is(are) a common reason(s) for failure of a total quality program?
a. Lack of understanding of cultural issues.
b. Tendency to imitate others.
c. Moving too slowly to implement the program.
d. a and b
12. Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of senior management in the implementation of total quality
initiatives?
a. Ensuring that the organization focuses on the needs of the customer.
b. Emphasizing people issues over technology issues.
c. Identifying the critical processes that need attention.
d. Reviewing progress and remove barriers.
13. Which of the following is not an approach that impedes the implementation of total quality?
a. Focusing on tools and techniques.
b. Integrating quality objectives with business strategy.
c. Delegating quality to front-line employees.
d. b and c
14. An example of managerial decisions that signal a culture change towards a total quality environment include
a. sharing the companys financial records with employees.
b. granting performance-based stock options to senior management.
c. removing all parking spaces reserved for executive.
d. a and c.
15. Perhaps the most significant cause of failure to effectively implement total quality initiatives is due to a lack of
alignment between expectations that arise from total quality change processes and _____.
a. leadership
b. reward systems
c. analysis techniques
d. employee training

16. Which of the following is an approach that many organizations have taken early in their journey towards
becoming a total quality organization.
a. Applying for a Baldrige award.
b. Studying leading companies to learn what they have done.
c. Widespread implementation of quality circles.
d. All of the above.
DISCUSSION QUESTION
17. Identify seven barriers that impede the implementation of a total quality program.
18. Discuss the two major reasons why companies adopt a total quality program.