Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Practice Exam

Which of the following is a value-added activity?

1. Inspection

2. Just-In-Time Inventory

3. Defect Correction

4. Waiting

The correct answer is: Just-In-Time Inventory

Just-In-Time Inventory is recognized as a value-added activity because it enhances efficiency and can significantly reduce waste in a production process. The Just-In-Time (JIT) philosophy aims to minimize inventory levels, thereby ensuring that materials arrive exactly when they are needed in the production process. This approach not only lowers the costs associated with holding excess inventory but also improves workflow and responsiveness to customer demand. By aligning production more closely with actual consumption, it contributes to optimizing resources and enhancing overall productivity. In contrast, inspection and defect correction are often considered necessary but non-value-added activities. While they play a critical role in ensuring quality, they do not directly contribute to adding value to the product from the customer's perspective. Waiting is similarly a non-value-added activity as it involves idle time that does not enhance the product or service. In a lean context, value-added activities are those that directly contribute to meeting the customer's requirements, and Just-In-Time Inventory clearly aligns with that principle.