CQT Practice Questions
Prepare for CQT with more than an answer.
- Exam fee
- $460 USD
- Level
- Technician
- Valid for
- Lifetime (no recertification required)
Domains covered on the exam 6
- Quality Concepts and Tools19%
- Statistical Techniques17%
- Metrology and Calibration16%
- Inspection and Test21%
- Quality Audits13%
- Risk Management14%
- 1
True or False: In the metrology hierarchy of standards, a working standard utilized daily on the shop floor possesses a higher level of accuracy and lower measurement uncertainty than a primary standard maintained in a national laboratory.
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Correct answer: B
False. The hierarchy of standards dictates that measurement uncertainty increases (accuracy decreases) as you move down the chain from primary standards to working standards. Primary standards (maintained by bodies like NIST) have the highest accuracy and lowest uncertainty. They calibrate transfer/reference standards, which in turn calibrate the working standards used daily on the shop floor.
- 2
A quality technician is tasked with selecting the appropriate measurement instrument to inspect the thickness of a precision metal shim. The engineering drawing specifies the shim thickness as 0.125 ± 0.002 inches.
Based on the industry standard 10:1 rule (also known as the 10% rule) for gauge selection, what is the minimum resolution required for the measurement instrument?
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Correct answer: B
The 10:1 rule states that a measurement instrument should have a resolution (and accuracy) that is at least one-tenth (10%) of the total tolerance band of the feature being measured. First, calculate the total tolerance: +0.002 to -0.002 equals a total tolerance band of 0.004 inches. Next, calculate 10% of the total tolerance: 0.004 / 10 = 0.0004 inches. Therefore, the instrument must have a minimum resolution of 0.0004 inches to adequately measure the part.
- 3
A manufacturing facility recently invested in a high-speed, automated laser inspection system to measure the dimensional accuracy of stamped metal parts before they are shipped to customers. The goal is to prevent nonconforming parts from leaving the facility. In the context of the Cost of Quality (COQ), how should the depreciation, maintenance, and operating costs of this automated laser inspection system be classified?
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Correct answer: B
Appraisal costs are expenses incurred to determine the degree of conformance to quality requirements. Since the laser inspection system is actively measuring and evaluating the stamped parts to ensure they meet specifications before shipment, its associated costs fall under appraisal. Prevention costs are incurred to keep defects from happening in the first place (e.g., training, quality planning). Internal failure costs occur when defects are found before reaching the customer (e.g., scrap, rework), and external failure costs occur after the customer receives a defective product.
- 4
A tier-1 automotive supplier is experiencing recurring surface scratches on machined aluminum engine blocks. The quality team initiates an 8D problem-solving process to address the issue. During the investigation, the team discovers that operators are placing their metal deburring tools directly on top of the machined engine blocks during breaks.
To resolve this, the team designs and installs a dedicated, color-coded shadow board at every workstation, mandating that all tools must be placed in their specific cutouts when not in active use. Following this implementation, the scratch defect rate drops to zero over a three-month monitoring period.
In the context of the 8D methodology and Lean principles, which 8D discipline does the implementation of the shadow board represent, and which 5S pillar does the shadow board primarily support?
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Correct answer: C
The installation of the shadow board is the actual execution of the solution that permanently eliminates the root cause, which aligns with D6 (Implement and Validate Permanent Corrective Actions) in the 8D methodology. In the 5S Lean framework, a shadow board is a classic example of 'Set in Order' (Seiton), which focuses on organizing necessary items so they are easy to find, use, and return to their proper locations. D3 involves temporary containment (like 100% sorting), and D5 is the selection/development phase before implementation.
flowchart TD A[Root Cause Identified: Tools on Engine Blocks] --> B[D5: Develop Solution] B --> C[Design Shadow Board] C --> D[D6: Implement Permanent Action] D --> E[Install Shadow Board] E --> F[5S Principle: Set in Order]
