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fgjuadi

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Posted 16 February 2015 - 03:04 PM

Wow... I wonder if SQF has lost it's way.  Have they had a major change in management?

 

Have you contacted them to complain?  I think I would.

No, I'm going to find the right source material and the take it again.  It'll be really easy once I figure out the definitions they're using.

 

Its okay to test something specific, but I wish they weren't calling it an SQF test (should be a Six Sigma test), or they gave some definition or guidance on terms.


Edited by magenta_majors, 16 February 2015 - 03:05 PM.

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Snookie

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Posted 16 February 2015 - 04:29 PM

Okay, I took it.  It took roughly 15 min from start to finish.  I did not pass on the first round.

 

But I did do a video screen capture for the length of the test, meaning I have all of the questions, possible answers, and  I know if my answer was correct.  I missed capturing 8 of the questions

 

They are using very specific definitions from one source.  I'm kind of afraid to take it again without knowing what the source material is!  They throw around LEAN manufacturing/ Six Sigma terms, and a lot of attention is paid to what steps are called, but there's no way to know which program they're referencing.  Certainly not the standard accepted terms - Wikipedia won't help you here. 

 

Here's the best example of how they're quoting a specific, unnamed source material (typos left in)-

 

Which of the following is a step inconducting a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) ?

 

Possible Answers - Eliminate, Rephrase, Define, Dispense

 

So there's clearly a set of steps someone somewhere defined as the RCA steps, but good luck finding it (Ed note: Seriously, good luck!  Let me know if you find it).  It's not the generally accepted DMAIC method, because I chose "Define" and that was incorrect.  Not that "DMAIC' is listed anywhere in SQF code.

 

There were also a lot of KPI questions like this:  "What is a KPI?' 

 

I also got that question wrong, so I can't tell you what SQF thinks a KPI is.  I think a KPI is a Key Performance Indicator, which measures a manufacturing output, which wasn't one of the answers.

 

Similarly, one question was simply the words "Key Performance Indicators"  .  That was the question.  I couldn't believe it, so I took a screen shot and attached it for you. 

 

There's clearly one place they're going to for information, because they list SMART objectives but use "Attainable' instead of the conventional 'Achievable". 

 

So if I can find the source material that use "Attainable" for a SMART objective and has Eliminate, Rephrase, or Dispense as one of the RCA steps, I'll feel comfortable taking the test.  Any leads?

 

Oh also for, "What step of the CAPA system would verification of effectiveness be completed?"

 

The answer isn't "Verification" even though they list that as an option and Verification is a step in the FDA's CAPA guidelines, so I have no idea what set of steps they're using for that one.  But not the FDA. 

 

Of the 52 questions I captured, # of questions by topic, then # of times they are mentioned in the code via a search of that term in the 7.2 pdf-

 

CAPA - 12 (0)

Parteo - 9 (0)

SMART - 6 (0)

KPI - 5 (0)

RCA- 5 (0)

Fishbone - 3 (0)

Plan Do Check Act -3 (0)

SQF Code - 2 (Staff conducting internal audits shall be, An internal audit schedule should include) (2)

5 Whys - 2 (0)

Risk Matrix - 1 (0)

?? - 4

 

Exactly!!!!  I loved the questions where technically there were two correct answers. 


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Mr. Incognito

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Posted 25 February 2015 - 06:21 PM

Ok...

 

So I was just part of an SQF webinar (yeah I know I'm currently under FSSC at my location but I am an SQF Practitioner)

 

There is the Advanced Practitioner class that was brought up and the presenter said it was "highly recommended" that anyone taking the test complete before taking the test.


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Snookie

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Posted 25 February 2015 - 06:24 PM

Ok...

 

So I was just part of an SQF webinar (yeah I know I'm currently under FSSC at my location but I am an SQF Practitioner)

 

There is the Advanced Practitioner class that was brought up and the presenter said it was "highly recommended" that anyone taking the test complete before taking the test.

 

Exactly!  I think this is about generating revenue not ascertaining knowledge or ability to use the system. 

 

 

I keep up on other systems as well as auditors may lean more one way or another, also one system may fit a plant more than another. 


Edited by Snookie, 25 February 2015 - 06:26 PM.

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Posted 25 February 2015 - 06:26 PM

Well... let's be honest and fair.  A lot of food safety standard "things", at least in my opinion, are for generating revenue.  


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Posted 25 February 2015 - 06:29 PM

Well... let's be honest and fair.  A lot of food safety standard "things", at least in my opinion, are for generating revenue.  

 

You have a point to be sure.  One of the things I have always liked about SQF is that there standards are free and certifications demonstrate at least some comprehension of the code (hopefully).  But I am not a big fan BS and this IMHO falls under the BS category. 


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Mr. Incognito

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Posted 25 February 2015 - 06:30 PM

Yeah as I've said many times, fervently, I do not like any standard that charges for standards.  If you are my supplier and you have FSSC I should be able to know what you are audited against if I am under SQF.


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Posted 25 February 2015 - 06:43 PM

IMO they call it a scheme for a reason...


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Posted 25 February 2015 - 07:53 PM

IMO they call it a scheme for a reason...

 

:spoton:  :spoton:


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fgjuadi

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Posted 25 February 2015 - 07:58 PM

I've been collecting links to the versions of their definitions via quotes from the test and mad google skillz....gonna take it again now that I know which references they are using. 

If it helps and I pass, I'll post the definitions of "KPI" etc and links to the references that they're using.


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fgjuadi

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Posted 27 February 2015 - 03:57 PM

Update :

 

This is more of a how-to take a test test than an SQF test.

 

Take 2!   I took the test again and passed (Though not with flying colors)

 

I wasn't able to find any of the references they use, even with mad google skillz.   I ended up loading wikipedia entries for - SMART objectives, KPI, Pareto analysis, Pareto chart, and  5 whys.  Also ASQ's website has some of the same basic definitions.  I was unable to find a CAPA reference that had any of the same steps SQF uses.

 

I highly recommend loading these pages before you start so you can reference them during the test.  Also recommend using screencast-o-matic or any other video grabber to "tape" your first shot at it so that you can reference if you need to take it a second (or third) time.   If you do this, you'll be able to pass on the third try simply by eliminating the answers you know are wrong from the previous two tries.  Because there were only 4 choices, 1 of the choices is usually crazy enough to be eliminated, and I had my previous screencast to see which answer was wrong the first time around, I was able to narrow down the unpossible questions to two answers, which gave me a 50/50 shot instead of 1/4.  If I had needed to take it a third time (which I almost did) I would have known the answer for sure for about half of the questions.

 

The questions they gave this time around were in roughly the same topic ratios.  There were many repeat questions that did not have clear answers. 


Edited by magenta_majors, 27 February 2015 - 03:58 PM.

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Mr. Incognito

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Posted 27 February 2015 - 04:01 PM

Congrats now head over to the Happy Friday thread and start learning the Futterwacken


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Posted 09 March 2015 - 06:28 PM

Ok, I just did and passed the "Implenting SQF System".

I'm thinking of taking the Advanced SQF Practioner Exam in the next couple days or weeks.

 

I read through this post... It seems that this exam is way harder than the "implementing SQF System"

Does anyone has material to study for this exam? other than googling key words... >.> (which everyone was mainly discussing about)



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Posted 09 March 2015 - 09:23 PM

.


Edited by Snookie, 09 March 2015 - 09:24 PM.

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Snookie

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Posted 09 March 2015 - 09:24 PM

Ok, I just did and passed the "Implenting SQF System".

I'm thinking of taking the Advanced SQF Practioner Exam in the next couple days or weeks.

 

I read through this post... It seems that this exam is way harder than the "implementing SQF System"

Does anyone has material to study for this exam? other than googling key words... >.> (which everyone was mainly discussing about)

 

 

Googling is not going to help you on this one.  SQF has taken common quality concepts and is applying them in a very specific way.  Suspect the goal is that it is almost necessary to take the seminars (where hopefully you get written material) in order to pass the test.  There were more than few questions where there were technically two correct answers. 

 

Good Luck. 


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Posted 28 February 2023 - 07:20 PM

Any recent SQF Practioner test threads? Will be writing the exam soon.





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