Question 1

In order to optimize the benefits of lean, "employee empowerment" would include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Leaders engaging the workforce.
B)  Responsibilities that are clearly defined.
C)  An idea suggestion program being implemented.
D)  B and C.
E)  A, B, and C. E

Question 2

Planning and deployment of lean requires management's prioritization of projects, approval of the projects, and celebration of the success once complete. Which selection below would indicate the focus for management when prioritizing, approving, and celebrating projects?

Accepted Answer

A)  Customer needs, business needs, and return on investment.
B)  Customer requirements and environmental impact.
C)  Elimination of waste and business impact.
D)  Cost, customer care, and continuity of business operations (C3) . A

Question 3

Cultural enablers respect the individual by providing developing opportunities to drive continuous improvement. Which of the following would a cultural enabler do to promote employee development?

Accepted Answer

A)  Provide additional vacation or leave time.
B)  Provide additional project resources.
C)  Provide training for rapid process deployment.
D)  Provide an in-house exercise suite. C

Question 4

Which factor would improve baseline safety measures?

Accepted Answer

A)  The standardization of tasks.
B)  Providing visual indicators for factory processes.
C)  Lubrication of a printing press.
D)  The addition of a conveyer belt which improves efficiency.

Question 5

A mentor is assisting a project team. In doing so, which factor is most important to members of the team?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ideas are not dismissed because of the agreed upon direction of the team.
B)  All members are compensated equally.
C)  All members feel as though they have something to contribute.
D)  The mentor develops a solution.

Question 6

Which of the following is a form of horizontal deployment in which the process that leads to an improvement is just as important as the improvement itself?

Accepted Answer

A)  Value stream mapping, which shows processing steps with information flow as well as process data.
B)  Yokoten, which promotes the sharing of information in a systematic manner.
C)  Poka-yoke, which prevents incorrect parts from being made or assembled.
D)  Process capability, which measures the inherent process variability.

Question 7

Leading with humility is a requirement which must occur long before learning and improvement can occur. Employees who have a leader that listens will respond by what?

Accepted Answer

A)  Understanding continuous improvement.
B)  Freely giving their creative abilities.
C)  Adequately managing conflict.
D)  Requiring additional resources.

Question 8

Knowing standards are the baseline against which improvements are measured, which of the following would be described as a standard?

Accepted Answer

A)  The cultural enabler which provides constancy.
B)  The framework for the best, most efficient, and safest way to perform a job.
C)  Operationally, the process which is known and requires no training.
D)  A process which incurs variability.

Question 9

Managers can review overall assessment scores or the scores an employee receives in specific categories. An employee who scores somewhere in the range of 4 to 7 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being high, would be categorized as what experience level?

Accepted Answer

A)  The practitioner level of lean practice.
B)  The basic level of lean practice.
C)  The expert level of lean practice.
D)  The novice level of lean practice.

Question 10

Which of the following would result in reduced regulatory oversight as a result of using lean principles?

Accepted Answer

A)  Participation in the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) with OSHA.
B)  Participation in EPA Energy training programs.
C)  Donation to the Energy Star Program.
D)  Donation to the World Aid Initiative.

Question 11

Organizational management should focus their attention to major initiatives and the strategic direction of the organization, while employees focus on the execution of the vision. Which principle supports this thought process?

Accepted Answer

A)  Involving and empowering all employees.
B)  Leading the organization with humility.
C)  Expanding the knowledge base and developing employees.
D)  Nurturing long-term relationships.

Question 12

A lean leader engages in their development of the lean mindset through commitment to continuous improvement. The premier focus of lean is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  The development of a clear vision for the organization to its employees.
B)  A customer focus for both internal and external customers.
C)  Development of clear responsibilities and expectations.
D)  Utilization of multiple lean tools.

Question 13

Some organizations do not embrace suggestion systems because of common objections. Which of the following is NOT included in the objections?

Accepted Answer

A)  Suggestion ideas require resources to implement.
B)  An employee's suggestions should be compensated.
C)  Suggestions may turn into complaints.
D)  Employers should not have to pay for ideas that should be part of an employee's job.

Question 14

According to Taiichi Ohno, which of the following is the purpose of a standard?

Accepted Answer

A)  To provide a mitigating factor in human error.
B)  To provide an organizational rule for a process.
C)  To provide timeline for the continuous learning process.
D)  To provide a baseline for future improvements.

Question 15

In order to best motivate, empower, and involve a lean team, which of the following would a supervisor do?

Accepted Answer

A)  Include additional reporting requirements for quality control.
B)  Provide an additional 15 minute break per shift.
C)  Eliminate approvals for reports.
D)  Provide redundant control mechanisms.

Question 16

Which of the following is the most important concept for a cultural enabler to recognize in order to utilize enabler techniques and practices in the best manner?

Accepted Answer

A)  Improvement is a normal part of daily work.
B)  Waste is inevitable and does not affect all work.
C)  Customers on the outside of the organization are most important.
D)  Employees should remain within their comfort zone.

Question 17

Implementing lean philosophies require management commitment, training, and incorporation of lean tools. What factor will most likely increase the value of lean with employees?

Accepted Answer

A)  Celebrating team success for projects.
B)  Allowing teams to choose team members.
C)  Introducing additional lean tools.
D)  Providing monetary incentives.

Question 18

The environmental safety aspect, which includes raw materials, packaging, and recycling, would be classified in what environmental category?

Accepted Answer

A)  Reduction of the carbon footprint.
B)  Workplace green initiatives.
C)  Reduce, reuse, and recycle initiatives.
D)  Organization "world care" initiatives.

Question 19

What is the best benefit of on-the-job training for an organization?

Accepted Answer

A)  On-the-job training is cost effective, as the instructors are in-house.
B)  It requires the employees to know job expectations from the start.
C)  It may require additional equipment.
D)  It requires additional transportation in some facilities.

Question 20

Which of these is an incorrect statement regarding the characteristics of standardization?

Accepted Answer

A)  Standardization is dynamic and requires continuous input.
B)  Standardization should occur across the organization.
C)  Standardization is static and requires no monitoring.
D)  Standardization employs the use of Plan-Do-Check-Act.

Exam 3: Cultural Enablers