Six Sigma Black Belt Certified Practice Exam 2025 – The All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

Poka-yoke is a Japanese term meaning "mistake-proofing." It refers to techniques or devices designed to prevent errors or defects from occurring in the process by eliminating the possibility of human error. Its primary goal is to create safeguards that make it nearly impossible for someone to make a mistake, thereby ensuring that quality is built into the process.

Preventing controllable defects aligns directly with the essence of Poka-yoke. This prevention is achieved through simple and effective solutions, such as using physical devices or modifying processes so that mistakes are impossible or immediately detectable before they result in defects. By incorporating these preventive measures, organizations can maintain high-quality standards while reducing the incidence of errors and the associated costs of rework or scrap.

In contrast, the other options focus on concepts that, while important in quality management and process improvement, do not encapsulate the core principle of Poka-yoke. Improving machine efficiency and reducing field failures speak to broader goals of operational excellence and reliability but do not specifically address the prevention of human errors in processes. Capturing the voice of the customer emphasizes understanding customer needs and requirements but is not directly related to mistake-proofing practices.