Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Practice Exam

You are performing a Six Sigma study for a leading manufacturer of acrylic glass sheets. You record the thickness of the glass in three places: top, middle, and bottom. This indicates which type of variation?

1. Nominal

2. Positional

3. Cyclical

4. Temporal

The correct answer is: Positional

The scenario describes recording the thickness of acrylic glass sheets in three different locations: the top, middle, and bottom. This practice highlights positional variation, which refers to differences observed in measurements taken from distinct locations within the same item or process. In this case, the positional variation is crucial because it helps identify if the thickness of the glass is consistent across the various positions, which can impact the quality and performance of the final product. Nominal variation would pertain to the differences between a product and a specified standard or target value and is not relevant to location-specific measurements. Cyclical variation usually refers to patterns or trends that repeat over time, while temporal variation is connected with changes occurring due to the passage of time or different time periods. Neither cyclical nor temporal variations would apply to the specific measurement positions being evaluated in this scenario. Therefore, acknowledging the variations based on the specific positions of measurement provides valuable insight into the process stability and quality assurance for the product.