Certified Production & Operations Manager (POM) Practice Exam

The quality control improvement tool that resembles a "fishbone" is:

1. Brainstorming

2. Cause-and-effect diagrams

3. Check sheets

4. Fail-safe methods

The correct answer is: Cause-and-effect diagrams

The tool that resembles a "fishbone" is the cause-and-effect diagram, often referred to as a fishbone diagram or Ishikawa diagram. This quality control improvement tool is used to systematically identify and analyze the potential causes of a specific problem or effect. The main feature of the diagram is its structure, which looks like a fish's skeleton, with the "bone" representing the main problem and the "spines" branching off to show various categories of potential causes. By breaking down the causes into different categories (often labeled as people, processes, materials, equipment, environment, and management), teams can visually organize and prioritize the factors contributing to a quality issue. This structured approach facilitates brainstorming sessions and helps teams to focus on root causes rather than symptoms of the problem, thus promoting better problem-solving and quality improvement practices. This diagram's effectiveness lies in its ability to encourage group discussion and collaboration among team members, leading to a comprehensive understanding of complex problems.