PK0-005 Tools and Documentation Practice Question
A project manager uses a diagram to identify the most frequent causes of defects in a process. The diagram displays bars in descending order and a cumulative line. Which quality tool is being used?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Pareto chart
A Pareto chart is a bar chart where bars are ordered from highest to lowest frequency, often with a cumulative line, to highlight the 'vital few' causes (80/20 rule). A fishbone diagram shows potential causes but not frequency. A control chart tracks variation over time. A scatter diagram shows correlation between two variables.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Fishbone diagram
Why it's wrong here
A fishbone diagram maps cause categories to a single effect, with no descending bars or cumulative percentage line. It tempts because it also identifies defect causes, but it is used for root-cause brainstorming rather than ranking defect frequency, which is the Pareto chart's function.
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Scatter diagram
Why it's wrong here
A scatter diagram plots paired variables to reveal correlation between two factors, lacking bars and a cumulative line. It tempts because it also analyses defects, but it tests relationships between variables rather than ranking causes by frequency, which is what the described Pareto chart does.
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Control chart
Why it's wrong here
A control chart plots process measurements over time against control limits to detect variation, not ranked defect categories. It tempts because both are quality tools tracking defects, but control charts address process stability across time, whereas the stem describes frequency ranking with a cumulative line.
- ✓
Pareto chart
Why this is correct
A Pareto chart is a bar graph with categories plotted in descending frequency order, overlaid with a cumulative percentage line. The stem's descending bars plus cumulative line match this structure exactly, distinguishing it from a histogram or run chart.
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