Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Practice Exam

Which lean tool ensures that the condition and state of manufacturing processes are clear and readily accessible?

1. SMED

2. Visual factory

3. OEE

4. Value stream mapping

The correct answer is: Visual factory

The visual factory is an effective lean tool designed to create an environment where the condition and status of manufacturing processes are easily visible and accessible to all team members. This approach utilizes visual signals, such as charts, diagrams, and color coding, to convey important information at a glance, enhancing communication and reducing the need for verbal explanations. By providing clear visual cues related to production stages, equipment status, and workflow, team members can quickly assess performance and identify any issues that may arise. This transparency empowers workers to make decisions based on real-time information and contributes to a culture of continuous improvement. In contrast, other tools mentioned do not primarily focus on ensuring visibility for monitoring processes. For instance, SMED focuses on reducing setup times to improve efficiency, OEE measures the effectiveness of equipment, and value stream mapping is used to analyze and design the flow of materials and information through a value stream. While these tools play vital roles in lean methodologies, they do not specifically emphasize creating a visually accessible workspace in the same way that the visual factory does.