Weights and Measures in International Trade

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of calibration?

To create a new field of metrology

To ensure accuracy in measurements (correct)

To compare different measurement instruments

To develop new measurement standards

What type of standards does the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) maintain?

International measurement standards

Local measurement standards

National measurement standards (correct)

Regional measurement standards

What is process capability?

The ability of a process to produce output that conforms to specifications (correct)

The ability of a process to produce output that is highly precise

The ability of a process to produce output that is highly variable

The ability of a process to produce output that is highly accurate

What is a process capability study designed to do?

Yield specific information about the performance of a process under specified operating conditions Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the typical questions asked in a process capability study?

Where is the process centered? Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of keeping records of calibration?

To ensure traceability by relating to appropriate standards Signup and view all the answers

What is a process characterization study?

A study to determine how a process performs under actual operating conditions Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of national and international trade organizations that assure uniform and accurate measures?

To ensure that measurements are uniform and accurate in trade Signup and view all the answers

What is the average number of returned renewal cards American Express receives in a month?

1,000 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the Six Sigma approach?

Finding and eliminating defects and errors Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the term 'six sigma'?

It represents 3.4 or fewer errors or defects per million opportunities Signup and view all the answers

Which company is credited with the development of Six Sigma in the mid-1980s?

Motorola Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of the 'Improve' stage in the Six Sigma approach?

To develop a solution to a problem Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the 'Define and Measure' stage in the Six Sigma approach?

To understand the problem and its scope Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the 'Control' stage in the Six Sigma approach?

It involves ensuring that the new process remains in control Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of the Six Sigma approach in terms of customer requirements?

To focus on outputs that are critical to customers Signup and view all the answers

What is essential to understand when analyzing a problem?

The fundamental understanding of the process Signup and view all the answers

What is a major consequence of a lack of knowledge about how a process works?

Increased variation in outputs Signup and view all the answers

What is a common source of defects, errors, or excessive variation in a process?

Lack of control of materials and equipment Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of Root Cause Analysis (RCA)?

To identify and understand the root cause of a defect Signup and view all the answers

What is the '5 Why' technique used for in Root Cause Analysis?

To redefine a problem statement as a chain of causes and effects Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of a root cause?

A condition that has allowed or caused a defect to occur, which once corrected properly, prevents recurrence of the defect Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of operational definitions?

To clarify performance measures Signup and view all the answers

What can lead to defects, errors, or excessive variation in a process?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a cause-and-effect diagram?

To present a chain of causes and effects and organize relationships between variables Signup and view all the answers

What is the graphical component of regression analysis?

Scatter diagram Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of Lean production approaches?

To eliminate waste in all forms Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of brainstorming in process improvement?

To generate a large number of ideas for removing or resolving problems Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of scoring models in process improvement?

To evaluate and select possible solutions against important criteria Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the 'CONTROL' phase in process improvement?

Maintaining the improvements and ensuring key variables remain within acceptable ranges Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the 5S's in Lean production?

To organize and standardize the workspace Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of the 'IMPROVE' phase in process improvement?

To generate ideas for removing or resolving problems Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of redefining and analyzing the problem in process improvement?

To achieve a workable problem definition Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between six sigma and TQM?

Six sigma is a methodology while TQM is a philosophy Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Deming's Cycle?

To control and improve quality Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in Walter Shewhart's three-step process?

Specification Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of generating ideas in process improvement?

To develop potential solutions Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of evaluating and selecting ideas in process improvement?

To determine whether the ideas have merit Signup and view all the answers

How many steps are in Deming's Cycle?

Three Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of implementing ideas in process improvement?

To sell the solution and gain acceptance Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Accuracy and Precision

Calibration is the process of verifying the capability and performance of an item of measuring and test equipment compared to traceable measurement standards.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) maintains national measurement standards.
NIST calibrates the reference-level standards of organizations requiring the highest level of accuracy.
Working-level standards are used to calibrate the measuring instruments used in the field.
Many organizations must ensure traceability by keeping records that their own measuring equipment has been calibrated by laboratories or testing facilities whose measurements can be related to appropriate standards.

Process Capability Measurement

Process capability is the ability of a process to produce output that conforms to specifications.
A process capability study is a carefully planned study designed to yield specific information about the performance of a process under specified operating conditions.
Typical questions in a process capability study include:
- Where is the process centered?
- How much variability exists in the process?
- Is the performance relative to specifications acceptable?
- What proportion of output will be expected to meet specifications?
- What factors contribute to variability?

Types of Process Capability Studies

Process characterization study: how a process performs under actual operating conditions

Process Improvement and Six Sigma

A. Learning Outcomes

Identify process improvement methodologies
Explain what is Six Sigma
Discuss the difference between Six Sigma and TQM

B. Time Allotment

2 sessions (3 hours)

C. Discussion

PROCESS IMPROVEMENT and Six Sigma

Process improvement depends on the ability to effectively identify problems, develop good solutions, and implement them.
A systematic fact-based problem-solving approach is vital in accomplishing this.
Common themes in process improvement methodologies include:
- Redefining and Analyzing the Problem
- Generating Ideas
- Evaluating and Selecting Ideas
- Implementing Ideas

Deming's Cycle

Walter Shewhart introduced the three-step process:
1. Specification
2. Production
3. Inspection

Six Sigma

Six Sigma is a business improvement approach that seeks to find and eliminate causes of defects and errors in manufacturing and service processes by focusing on outputs that are critical to customers and a clear financial return for the organization.
The term Six Sigma is based on a statistical measure that equates to 3.4 or fewer errors or defects per million opportunities (dpmo).

Evolution of Six Sigma

Motorola (mid-1980s)
General Electric (mid-1990s)

Principles of Six Sigma

1. Think in terms of key business processes and customer requirements with a clear focus on overall strategic objectives.
1. Focus on corporate sponsors responsible for championing projects, supporting team activities, helping to overcome resistance to change, and obtaining resources.
1. Emphasize quantifiable measures such as dpmo that can be applied to all parts of an organization.
1. Ensure that appropriate metrics are identified early in the process and that they focus on business results, thereby providing incentives and accountability.
1. Provide extensive training followed by project team deployment to improve profitability, reduce non-value-added activities, and achieve cycle time reduction.

Root Cause Analysis

Root cause: "that condition (or interrelated set of conditions) having allowed or caused a defect to occur, which once corrected properly, permanently prevents recurrence of the defect in the same, or subsequent, product or service generated by the process."
Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is an approach using statistical, quantitative, or qualitative tools to identify and understand the root cause.

Types of RCA

1. "5 Why" technique: forces one to redefine a problem statement as a chain of causes and effects to identify the source of the symptoms by asking why, ideally five times.
1. Cause-and-effect diagram: a simple graphical method for presenting a chain of causes and effects and for sorting out causes and organizing relationships between variables.
1. Scatter diagram: the graphical component of regression analysis.

Lean Tools for Process Improvements

Lean production refers to approaches that originated at the Ford Motor Company in the early 1900s, but which were refined and modernized by the Toyota Motor Corporation later in the century.
Lean approaches focus on the elimination of waste in all forms, including defects requiring rework, unnecessary processing steps, unnecessary movement of materials or people, waiting time, excess inventory, and overproduction.

Tools of Lean Production

1. The 5S's: seiri (sort), seiton (set in order), seiso (shine), seiketsu (standardize), and shitsuke (sustain).
1. Visual controls.

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Description

Learn about the importance of accurate and uniform measures in national and international trade, and the roles of different organizations and laboratories in ensuring precision and calibration.