adf

asf

Conform to requirements vs fit for use

An item can meet all specified requirements (conform to requirements) yet still fail to satisfy the customer's needs in real use (not fit for use).

Why are customer and stakeholder relationships important to quality management?

They ensure clear requirements, realistic expectations, and continuous feedback that improves quality.

Describe functionality and features.

Functionality is what a product or system does; features are the specific attributes that enable those functions.

Why might meeting performance expectations be difficult for a project team?

Expectations change, resources are limited, and trade-offs among scope, time, and cost create conflicts.

How can a project deliver on current expectations but fail maintainability?

It works now but is hard or expensive to fix, update, or support over time.

What is quality assurance and how are audits used to support it?

QA focuses on process quality; audits independently review whether processes are followed and effective.

What is project rework and how can it affect schedule, cost, and scope?

Rework is fixing defects. It adds time, increases cost, and can force scope changes.

What is the purpose of a control chart and what is the seven run rule?

A control chart tracks process variation; the seven run rule flags nonrandom patterns that may signal issues.

What is the relationship between a Pareto chart and the 80/20 rule?

A Pareto chart shows that a vital few causes drive most problems (about 20 percent of causes drive 80 percent of effects).

What is statistical sampling and why is it important?

Testing a representative subset to infer overall quality, saving time and cost while maintaining confidence.

What is Six Sigma and what are the elements of DMAIC?

Six Sigma reduces variation and defects using DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control.

When might Six Sigma not be the right approach?

When creativity and rapid exploration matter more than tight control, such as early design or research.

Explain normal distribution and standard deviation.

Normal distribution is the bell-shaped spread of data; standard deviation measures how far data vary from the mean.

When should testing occur on a project?

Throughout development: early and often, aligned with each build and stage.

List the four software testing methods in order.

Unit, Integration, System, User Acceptance.

Summarize key quality contributors.

Deming (continuous improvement), Juran (planning and cost of quality), Crosby (zero defects), Ishikawa (cause-and-effect), Taguchi (robust design).

What is the ISO 9000 standard?

International standards for quality management systems to ensure consistent processes and customer focus.

What are costs of quality and why do they matter?

Conformance costs (prevention and appraisal) vs nonconformance costs (failures); managing both minimizes total cost.

Compare internal failure cost and external failure cost.

Internal happens before delivery (scrap, rework); external happens after delivery (returns, warranty, reputation damage).

Define: Conformance to requirements

Meeting documented design and process specifications.

Define: Fitness for use

Ability to satisfy the intended real-world needs of the user.

Define: Project feasibility

Likelihood the project can be done successfully within constraints.

Define: Benchmarking

Comparing performance and practices to industry leaders to identify improvements.

Define: DMAIC (and its phases)

Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control.

Define: Metric

A measurable indicator used to track performance.

Define: Sigma

A statistical measure of variation from the mean.

Define: Features

Specific attributes that add capability to a product or service.

Define: Performance

How well a product or process meets its objectives.

Define: Functionality

What the product or system actually does.

Define: Reliability

Consistency of performance without failure over time.

Define: Statistical sampling

Evaluating a representative subset to infer quality of the whole.

Define: Rework

Effort to correct defects after initial work.

Define: External failure cost

Costs from defects found after delivery, such as returns or warranty work.

Define: Internal failure cost

Costs from defects found before delivery, such as scrap or rework.