ASQ ASQ-CQE Online Practice Questions and Exam Preparation

ASQ ASQ-CQE Online Questions & Answers

• Question 1:

  When measurements are taken using a reference scale, such as a pair of calipers, the resulting data are referred to as

  A. classified
  B. attribute
  C. discrete
  D. continuous
  D. continuous

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  explanation:

  Explanation

  When measurements are taken using a reference scale, such as a pair of calipers, the resulting data are referred to as continuous data. Continuous data can take any value within a given range and are measured on a scale that can be subdivided. This type of data is crucial for precise quality control and statistical analysis in manufacturing and engineering.

• Question 2:

  A customer rates its suppliers for which of the following reasons?

  A. To negotiate the lower cost of a purchased good
  B. To compare multiple sources of the same item
  C. To eliminate incoming inspection
  D. To increase inventory levels
  B. To compare multiple sources of the same item

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  explanation:

  Explanation

  Customers rate their suppliers to evaluate and compare the performance and quality of different suppliers. This helps in making informed decisions about which supplier to choose based on various factors such as quality, cost, and reliability. Among the given options, the most appropriate reason is:Reason: Comparing multiple sources of the same item allows the customer to choose the best supplier based on performance metrics.

• Question 3:

  When a 24 experiment is fractionated to a 24'5 experiment, the fractioned design is also known as a:

  A. 90% fraction
  B. 75% fraction
  C. fraction
  D. fraction
  B. 75% fraction

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  explanation:

  Explanation

  In factorial design experiments, fractionating involves using a subset of the full set of experimental runs. A 242^424 full factorial experiment involves 16 runs, and fractionating this to 2412^{4-1}241 results in 8 runs.

  90% Fraction:

  Incorrect, as this would imply a fractional design close to the full factorial, but it is not standard terminology.

  75% Fraction:

  The correct answer as 2412^{4-1}241 implies a design that uses 816\frac{8}{16}168 or 50% of the full factorial runs. However, in common terminology, a fractionated design resulting in fewer runs (half of the runs) is considered a 50% fraction.

  Therefore, this fractionation corresponds to a 50% fraction or half fraction.

  Fraction:

  Too vague, as it does not specify the fraction size.

  Fraction:

  Duplicates "fraction."

  Therefore, the correct fractional reduction is to a 50% fraction, which is commonly used in design of experiments. The proper fraction designation in this case should be 50%, not 75%.

  References: Design of experiments (DOE) principles.

• Question 4:

  The primary characteristic of risk management is being

  A. simple
  B. reactive
  C. unnatural
  D. all-inclusive
  D. all-inclusive

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  explanation:

  Explanation

  Risk management in software quality engineering aims to identify, assess, and mitigate risks that could affect project outcomes. The primary characteristic of effective risk management is that it should be all-inclusive. This means it should

  encompass all potential risk areas, including technical, project management, resource allocation, and external factors. An all-inclusive approach ensures that no significant risk is overlooked and that comprehensive strategies are in place to

  manage identified risks effectively.

  References:

  Software Quality Assurance: Principles and Practice by Nina S. Godbole.

  ASQ Software Quality Engineer Handbook.

• Question 5:

  Accelerated aging of a sterile barrier system is an example of which or the following design verification methods?

  A. Analyzing
  B. Testing
  C. Demonstrating
  D. Inspecting
  B. Testing

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  explanation:

  Explanation

  Accelerated aging involves subjecting a product to elevated stress conditions (like temperature, humidity) to simulate the aging process.

  Analyzing:

  Involves reviewing data or conditions but not actively subjecting the product to stress.

  Testing:

  Involves actively evaluating the product under specific conditions to observe its performance.

  Accelerated aging fits under testing because it involves placing the product under controlled stress conditions to observe its behavior over time.

  Demonstrating:

  Generally used to show functionality but does not specifically involve stress conditions.

  Inspecting:

  Involves looking at the product for defects or quality, not necessarily under accelerated conditions.

  References: Product testing standards and reliability engineering texts.

• Question 6:

  80 of weekly inspection non-conforming reports presented to the material review board (MRB) at Marathon Manufacturing Co. end up not being dispositioned for corrective action. Project management developed a risk management plan which included a standard repair manual (SRM) to help mitigate these issues. Only conditions that exceed SRM requirements or specifications will now be forwarded for MRB review. A week after releasing the SRM. the quality engineering team decided to generate and distribute weekly alert reports of non-conformities that exceed SRM requirements or specifications to all inspectors. They also instructed all employees involved in the creation of those discrepancies be retrained.

  Which of the following processes may be considered a risk treatment?

  A. Generating a weekly report of non-conformities that exceed SRM requirement and specifications
  B. Distributing weekly alert report of non-conformities to all inspectors
  C. Instructing that all employees involved creating those discrepancies be re-trained
  D. Reducing throughput at Marathon Manufacturing Co.
  C. Instructing that all employees involved creating those discrepancies be re-trained

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  explanation:

  Explanation

  Instructing that all employees involved in creating those discrepancies be re-trained is considered a risk treatment. This action addresses the root cause of the non-conformities by improving the skills and knowledge of the employees, thereby reducing the likelihood of future occurrences.

• Question 7:

  How many total degrees of freedom are in an unreplicated 23 factorial experiment?

  A. 7
  B. 6
  C. 5
  D. 1
  B. 6

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  explanation:

  Explanation

  In an unreplicated 232^323 factorial experiment, there are 8 runs (since 23=82^3 = 823=8). The total degrees of freedom are calculated as the number of runs minus 1, which is 81=78 - 1 = 781=7. However, considering there are three

  factors, each with one degree of freedom, and their interactions (1 for each main effect, 3 two-way interactions, and 1 three-way interaction), the correct total degrees of freedom are 7.

  References:

  Design and Analysis of Experiments by Douglas

  C. Montgomery.

  ASQ Quality Press: The Certified Quality Engineer Handbook.

• Question 8:

  The following chart is being used to monitor a process. What do points X and Y. and region Z represent on the chart?

  

  A. Special causes of variation
  B. Changes in raw materials
  C. Common causes of variation
  D. Statistically stable variation
  A. Special causes of variation

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  explanation:

  Explanation

  The chart provided is a control chart used to monitor process variation over time.

  Control charts have upper control limits (UCL) and lower control limits (LCL) that represent the threshold of acceptable variation.

  Points X and Y, which lie outside the control limits, indicate special causes of variation. These are deviations caused by specific, identifiable factors rather than inherent process noise.

  Region Z, where data points are consistently below the mean and approaching the LCL, suggests a trend indicating a shift due to special causes.

  References: According to ISO 9001 and the ASQ, control charts are utilized to detect special causes of variation, which signal that a process is out of control and requires investigation.

• Question 9:

  Rank in order from first to last, the following steps in analyzing experiments.

  1.Performing hypothesis tests on factors

  2.Estimating a mathematical model

  3.Checking assumptions

  4.Using the model for prediction

  A. 1,3,2,4
  B. 1,4,2,3
  C. 2,4,2,1
  D. 3,2,4,1
  A. 1,3,2,4

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  explanation:

  Explanation

  The correct order for analyzing experiments is:

  Performing hypothesis tests on factors

  Checking assumptions

  Estimating a mathematical model

  Using the model for prediction

  Firstly, hypothesis tests are performed to identify significant factors. Secondly, assumptions are checked to ensure the validity of the tests. Thirdly, a mathematical model is estimated based on the significant factors. Lastly, the model is used

  for prediction.

  "Design and Analysis of Experiments" by Douglas

  C.

  Montgomery, which outlines these steps in detail.

• Question 10:

  The following is an incomplete ANOVA table.

  SourcessdfMSF Treatment3334 Error20 Total64324

  What is the value of the F-statistic used to test for differences in treatment?

  A. 0.21
  B. 1.07
  C. 2.87
  D. 5.37
  D. 5.37

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  explanation:

  Explanation

  Calculate the degrees of freedom for error :dfError=Total dfTreatment df=244=20\text{df}_{\text{Error}} = \text{Total df} - \text{Treatment df} = 24 - 4 = 20dfError=Total dfTreatment df=244=20 Calculate the sum of squares for error :ssError=Total ssTreatment ss=643333=310\text{ss}_{\text{Error}} = \text{Total ss} - \text{Treatment ss} = 643 - 333 = 310ssError=Total ssTreatment ss=643333=310 Calculate the mean squares : MSTreatment=ssTreatmentdfTreatment=3334=83.25\text{MS}_{\text{Treatment}} = \frac{\text{ss}_{\text{Treatment}}}{\text{df}_{\text{Treatment}}} = \frac{333}{4} = 83.25MSTreatment=dfTreatmentssTreatment=4333=83.25

  MSError=ssErrordfError=31020=15.5\text{MS}_{\text{Error}} = \frac{\text{ss}_{\text{Error}}}{\text{df}_{\text{Error}}} = \frac{310}{20} = 15.5MSError=dfErrorssError=20310=15.5 Calculate the F-statistic : F=MSTreatmentMSError=83.2515.55.37F = \frac{\text{MS}_{\text{Treatment}}}{\text{MS}_{\text{Error}}} = \frac{83.25}{15.5} \approx 5.37F=MSErrorMSTreatment=15.583.255.37