Answer Key

Course:
Module:
1.

Practical Problem Solving

PPS Overview

a gap between actual and desired conditions

an unfilled customer need
any deviation from the standard

2.

Standard not achieved

3.

Performance to standard varies (not consistently achieved)

4.

True

5.

measure

6.

False

7.

1) Clarify the Problem = Clearly describe the current situation

2) Break Down the Problem = Breaking the big vague problem down
3) Set a Target We WILL Achieve = This step forces us to make a
4) Analyze the Root Cause = Find points of cause, which is the

8.

Standardize Success, Learn from Failure

9.

True

Course:
Module:

Practical Problem Solving

PDCA

1.

Plan, Do, Check, Act

2.

False

3.

True

4.

hansei

5.

Yokoten

Answer Key
Course:
Module:

Practical Problem Solving

Step 1: Clarify the Problem

1.

False

2.

Common Cause

3.

current

4.

True

5.

Good problem statements are factual, within scope, and short and to the
point.
A good problem statement does not contain a cause, or a suspected
cause.
A good problem statement does NOT include a solution.

Course:
Module:
1.

Practical Problem Solving

Step 2: Breakdown the Problem

What is the problem?

Where is it happening?
Who is being impacted?
When does it occur?

2.

True

3.

80-20 rule

4.

detail

5.

Potential for Expansion

Level of Urgency
Level of Importance

Answer Key
Course:
Module:

Practical Problem Solving

Step 3: Set a Target

1.

True

2.

Specific

3.

True

4.

confident and excited

5.

How we will do it
What we will do with the target.
The Ideal situation with the target to be achieved

Course:
Module:

Practical Problem Solving

Step 4: Analyze Root Causes

1.

True

2.

yourself

3.

False

4.

Manufacturing

5.

Fishbone

Answer Key
Course:
Module:

Practical Problem Solving

Fishbone Diagram Explained

1.

Kaoru Ishikawa

2.

False

3.

True

4.

five, 5

5.

dynamic

Course:
Module:

Practical Problem Solving

Five Why Explained

1.

effect

2.

Continue asking why on different points of cause until root cause is

identified

3.

True

4.

So

5.

Not creating multiple paths when more may be needed

Stopping at 5 whys when more may be needed
Not asking so to check the analysis makes sense

Answer Key
Course:
Module:

Practical Problem Solving

Step 5: Develop Countermeasures

1.

True

2.

Because solution assumes finality, meaning the problem will never occur
again, even for different root causes

3.

Paraphrase someones idea while writing it down

4.

Top left quadrant

5.

Set-based Countermeasures

Course:
Module:

Practical Problem Solving

Step 6: See Countermeasures Through

1.

False

2.

Trystorming

3.

Pick up the pace (i.e. move quickly)

4.

False

5.

PDCA cycle

Answer Key
Course:
Module:

Practical Problem Solving

Step 7: Evaluate the Process and Results

1.

check or follow up

2.

Where did we deviate from the plan?

What actions worked and what didnt?
What does the data say?

3.

True

4.

Respond, Its OK as long as we learned something.

5.

True

Course:
Module:

Practical Problem Solving

Step 8: Standardize Success and Learn from Failures

1.

act

2.

True

3.

Preparing for + climbing a mountain

4.

Yokoten

5.

False