Certified Production & Operations Manager (POM) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The correct term for foolproof designed processes in Japanese is "Poka-yoke." This concept refers to mechanisms in a process that help an operator avoid mistakes, thereby ensuring that the process is completed correctly. It involves designing processes and systems that naturally prevent errors or make them immediately detectable and easily correctable. The idea is to minimize the opportunity for human error and enhance the efficiency and safety of the operations.

Poka-yoke is often implemented in manufacturing settings, but its principles can be applied in various industries to ensure quality and prevent defects. The effectiveness of Poka-yoke lies in its focus on process design that inherently avoids potential errors, which is pivotal for achieving high quality and operational excellence.

Other terms mentioned, such as Kaizen, which focuses on continuous improvement, Total Quality Management (TQM), which is an overarching approach to improve quality in an organization, and Jidoka, which emphasizes the importance of building quality into the production process, relate to broader methodologies and philosophies in operations management but do not specifically denote foolproof design processes like Poka-yoke does.