Six Sigma Black Belt Certified Practice Exam

What tool should a Six Sigma team use to determine potential pitfalls and actual defects in a company’s ordering process?

1. Process failure mode and effects analysis

2. Process map

3. Design for Six Sigma

4. Supplier input process output control

The correct answer is: Process failure mode and effects analysis

The selection of Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA) is appropriate because this tool is specifically designed to identify potential pitfalls in a process before they occur. PFMEA provides a systematic approach for evaluating the processes associated with the ordering system by identifying modes of failure and their potential effects. This allows a team to prioritize which areas need immediate attention based on the severity, occurrence, and detection of these failures. By analyzing each step of the ordering process through PFMEA, the Six Sigma team can pinpoint where defects are likely to arise and evaluate the risks associated with those defects. This proactive approach enables the team to implement corrective actions or preventive measures to reduce the likelihood of defects occurring, thereby improving the overall quality of the ordering process. The other tools listed may serve different purposes in process improvement efforts. For example, a process map provides a visual representation of the workflow, which is helpful for understanding the current process and identifying areas of inefficiency but does not specifically focus on potential defects. Design for Six Sigma is aimed at designing products or processes that meet customer requirements from the outset, and Supplier Input Process Output Control focuses on managing inputs from suppliers to ensure the output quality of processes. However, these tools do not inherently analyze or prioritize failure modes in the way that