What is ISO 9000?
A family of international quality management standards defining requirements for a Quality Management System (QMS). Focuses on process standardization, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement. (Exam Tip: Often tied to ‘building quality into the process’ — proactive QA.)
How is ISO 9000 applied in projects?
It provides a framework for ensuring deliverables meet requirements through standardized processes. Certification demonstrates adherence to best practices. (Exam Tip: Linked to quality assurance, not control.)
What is Six Sigma?
A data-driven methodology for process improvement focused on reducing defects and variability. Target: 3.4 defects per million opportunities. (Exam Tip: Usually tied to process improvement or defect reduction.)
What does DMAIC stand for in Six Sigma?
Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control — a structured approach for improving existing processes. (Exam Tip: ‘Improve process capability’ often signals Six Sigma.)
What is Kaizen?
A continuous improvement philosophy encouraging small, incremental changes over time. (Exam Tip: Often appears as part of quality culture or team-driven improvement.)
What is Total Quality Management (TQM)?
An organizational approach where quality is everyone’s responsibility, focusing on customer satisfaction and continuous improvement. (Exam Tip: If the question involves ‘organization-wide quality responsibility,’ TQM is likely the answer.)
What is PDCA?
Plan, Do, Check, Act — a continuous improvement cycle used for refining processes. (Exam Tip: Questions about iterative process refinement often refer to PDCA.)
What is Just-In-Time (JIT)?
A production strategy that reduces inventory and waste by producing only when needed. (Exam Tip: PMI might test it as ‘reducing inventory = exposing quality issues sooner.’)
What is benchmarking in quality management?
A technique comparing project practices or performance with industry best practices to identify improvement opportunities. (Exam Tip: Watch for questions about ‘adopting best practices from other organizations.’)
What is the difference between prevention and inspection?
Prevention ensures quality during the process (proactive). Inspection detects defects after production (reactive). (Exam Tip: PMI always prefers prevention over inspection.)
What is quality assurance (QA)?
A process-oriented activity ensuring quality standards are built into processes and followed. (Exam Tip: Linked to process audits and ISO 9000.)
What is quality control (QC)?
A product-oriented activity verifying deliverables meet quality requirements through inspection and testing. (Exam Tip: Linked to defect detection.)
