assemble-to- order (ATO) A system that produces standard modules to be modified and/or combined into a customizable product. ATO or QFD or DMAIC? Click here for Hint

assignable variation Deviations with a specific cause or source. control chart or assignable variation or SPC? Click here for Hint

benchmarking Measuring performance relative to some peer’s performance, generally identified as best in class. Six Sigma or benchmarking or SPC? Click here for Hint

brainstorming Collecting and discussing various ideas from group members to develop a solution to a target problem. brainstorming or ISO 9000 or quality circle? Click here for Hint

causal modeling Predicting an outcome by identifying its relationship with one or more other factors. SPC or Pareto analysis or causal modeling? Click here for Hint

concurrent engineering Integration of a product’s design and process development phases, to enhance manufacturability. Kaizen or TQM or concurrent engineering? Click here for Hint

control chart Graph illustrating observed values in relationship to the allowable limits on those values. control chart or Pareto analysis or histogram? Click here for Hint

cradle-to-cradle Planning sustainability as a perpetual cycle of transformation, in which the disposal of one product provides the materials for another. cradle-to-gate or cradle-to-cradle or cradle- to-grave? Click here for Hint

cradle-to-gate Planning sustainability from the procurement of raw materials through the production of the product. cradle-to-gate or cradle-to-cradle or cradle- to-grave? Click here for Hint

cradle-to-grave Planning sustainability from the procurement of raw materials through the final disposal of the product. cradle-to-gate or cradle-to-cradle or cradle- to-grave? Click here for Hint

correlation coefficient A measure of the strength of any linear relationship between two sets of observations. SPC or histogram or correlation coefficient? Click here for Hint

delayed differentiation An ATO strategy for stocking highly standardized components for later customization into finished goods, once a customer’s requirements are known. rapid prototyping or delayed differentiation or proaction? Click here for Hint

DMAIC Define, measure, analyze, improve, and control: emphasizes the various phases of the Six Sigma methodology. ISO 9000 or Six Sigma or DMAIC? Click here for Hint

employee empowerment Granting an employee the authority to take independent action on behalf of the overall operation. employee empowerment or kaizen or brainstorming? Click here for Hint

fishbone diagram Visual model to clarify cause-and-effect relationships. scatter diagram or fishbone diagram or histogram? Click here for Hint

green Assures sustainability. SPC or TQM or green? Click here for Hint

histogram A bar chart illustrating the relative frequency of occurrences in different categories. scatter diagram or fishbone diagram or histogram? Click here for Hint

ISO 9000 A certification of compliance with an internationally recognized set of quality management standards. kaizen or ISO 9000 or SPC? Click here for Hint

kaizen Japanese term for a focus on continuous improvement. kaizen or TQM or DMAIC? Click here for Hint

manufacturability The degree to which a product can be created easily and reliably according to specifications. reverse engineering or manufacturability or quality of conformance? Click here for Hint

natural variation The randomness inherent in a process; also known as random variation. delayed differentiation or quality of design or natural variation? Click here for Hint

Pareto analysis The use of statistics to identify the factors most influential in a particular outcome of interest. Pareto analysis or SPC or histogram? Click here for Hint

proaction Avoidance of preventable risk, the first and most basic stage of risk management. proaction or SPC or TQM? Click here for Hint

quality function deployment (QFD) analysis Modeling the mathematical correlations between customers’ perception of a product and its technical design specifications. QFD analysis or correlation coefficient or SPC ? Click here for Hint

quality circle A group of employees that meets regularly to discuss and develop opportunities for continuous improvement of an operation. benchmarking or brainstorming or quality circle? Click here for Hint

quality of conformance The degree to which the output of an operation meets the producer’s expectations. quality of design or quality of conformance or manufacturability? Click here for Hint

quality of design The degree to which the output of an operation meets the customer’s expectations. quality of design or quality of conformance or manufacturability? Click here for Hint

rapid prototyping Creating physical examples of a design as quickly as possible, to allow further assessment and improvement. DMAIC or rapid prototyping or reverse engineering? Click here for Hint

reverse engineering Disassembling and evaluating a competitor’s product. DMAIC or rapid prototyping or reverse engineering? Click here for Hint

risk The possibility of loss or the source of such a possibility. causal modeling or proaction or risk? Click here for Hint

scatter diagram A graph of paired observations plotted as coordinate points to highlight their relationship. scatter diagram or fishbone diagram or histogram? Click here for Hint

Six Sigma A quality management program emphasizing the application of analytical tools and widespread involvement of employees across the organization. Six Sigma or kaizen or TQM? Click here for Hint

statistical process control (SPC) The monitoring of overall conformance through the ongoing evaluation of samples. SPC or TQM or causal modeling? Click here for Hint

total quality management (TQM) Simultaneous and continuous pursuit of improvement in both the quality of design and conformance through the involvement of the entire organization. SPC or TQM or quality of design? Click here for Hint