Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Practice Exam

How would temperature fluctuations in a production process likely present on an average control chart?

1. Lack of variability

2. Jumps in process level

3. Points near or outside the control limits

4. Recurring cycles

The correct answer is: Recurring cycles

Temperature fluctuations in a production process would likely present on an average control chart as recurring cycles. This is because temperature can influence production conditions and may lead to patterns or trends that repeat over time, creating a cyclic effect. The control chart helps in visualizing these cycles, as it reflects how the mean of the process might oscillate due to periodic changes in temperature. Recurring cycles are specifically observable in control charts as intervals of higher and lower values that can indicate the process's response to the temperature changes, thus demonstrating a clear pattern in the data over time. Identifying these cycles can help in implementing adjustments to maintain process stability and quality. Other possibilities such as jumps in process level, points near or outside the control limits, or a lack of variability would indicate different types of issues. Jumps would suggest abrupt changes rather than gradual cycles, while points outside the control limits would indicate an out-of-control process. A lack of variability would typically suggest that the process is very stable with minimal fluctuations, which does not align with the expectation of temperature variability affecting the production process.