Lean Six Sigma: The DMAIC Framework

Interested in a free 25+ eBook on the 7 Wastes? Please DOWNLOAD HERE.

In an earlier post, I asked how Lean and Six Sigma can work together. In a later post, I shared that Lean and Six Sigma have a common history. In this post, I’ll explain the Six Sigma Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control (DMAIC) Framework.

Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control (DMAIC)

To put Six Sigma into practice, a practical framework it uses is called DMAIC. Visually, the Six Sigma storyboard looks like this:

Now, I’ll explain each of the elements of the DMAIC framework:

Define

The first phase is Define. During the Define phase, a team and its sponsors reach agreement on what the project is and what it should accomplish. Presuming that a draft of the Project Charter is already in place, the main work in the Define phase is for the project team to complete an analysis of what the project should accomplish and confirm understanding with the sponsor(s). They should agree on the problem, which customers are affected, and how the current process or outcomes fail to meet their customers’ needs through “Voice of the Customer or Critical-To-Quality (CTQ).”

Measure

One of the major benefits of Six Sigma is its demand for a fact-based and data-driven analytical approach. Most other improvement methodologies, including Lean, tend to attempt process improvement without sufficient data to understand the underlying causes of the problem. The result is typically many quick-hit projects with short-lived or disappointing results. Combining data with knowledge and experience is what separates true improvement from mere process tinkering. One of the goals of the Measure phase is to pin-point the location or source of a problem as precisely as possible by building a factual understanding of existing process conditions. That knowledge helps you narrow the range of potential causes requiring investigation in the Analyze phase. An important part of Measure is to establish a baseline capability level.

Analyze

The Measure phase has identified the baseline performance of the process. By stratifying (sequenced in order of ranks or order) the data in the baseline performance, it becomes possible to pinpoint the location or source of problems by building a factual understanding of existing process conditions and problems. That helps to focus the problem statement. In the Analyze phase you will develop theories of root causes, confirm the theories with data, and finally identify the root cause(s) of the problem. The verified cause(s) will then form the basis for solutions in the Improve phase.

Improve

The sole purpose of the Improve phase is to demonstrate, with fact and data, that your solutions solve the problem. Your organization will make changes in a process that will eliminate the defects, waste, and unnecessary costs that are linked to the customer need identified during the Define phase. Tools and strategies you will find for the Improve phase will include solution matrices that link brainstormed solution alternatives to customer needs and the project purpose, and methods for implementing desired solutions.

Control

During the Improve phase, the solution is piloted, and plans are made for full scale implementation. Putting a solution in place can fix a problem for the moment, but the activities in the Control phase are designed to insure that the problem does not reoccur and that the new processes can be further improved over time.

In Conclusion

In the next post, I’ll explain the framework within which Lean is applied, Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) and the A3 Format. Then, after that post, I’ll show how PDCA and DMAIC can be integrated; in other words, integrating Lean and Six Sigma in a practical way that can add value and help the organization.

search terms for this article:

six sigma, six sigma dmaic, six sigma framework, lean dmaic, DMAIC LEAN, lean six sigma purpose, lean six sigma framework, dmaic six sigma, dmaic images, During which phase of DMAIC (define measure analyze improve control) is the sole purpose to demonstrate with fact and data that your solutions solve the problem?, what is the primary purpose of lean six sigma, Lean Six Sigma Dmaic, 6 sigma DMAIC, six sigma images, sixsigma measure phase solved exerises, dmaic lean six sigma, framework of six sigma, During which phase of DMAIC (define measure analyze improve control) is the sole purpose to demonstrate with fact and data that your solutions solve the problem, lean framework, lean six sigma projects dmaic, dmaic image, explain DMAIC, the main purpose of the measure phase of dmaic is to, project charter, DMAIC example, dmaic framework define, six sigma storyboard, 6 sigmas, lean six sigma storyboard, lean six sigma operational definition, DMAIC report, the main purpose of the measure phase of dmaic is to:, The DMAIC Framework, DMAIC Project examples, dmaic define phase, six sigma storyboard example, frame work of six sigma, six sigma pictures images, six sigma frameworks, dmaic pictures, demaic, framework of six sigma programme, define measure analyze improve control, lean six sigma dmaic process, dmaic phases, understanding DMAIC, lean six sigma project examples, six sigma dmaic framework, analyze phase of dmaic, Free download of six sigma measure phase solved exercise, what is six sigma, during which phase of dmaic is the sole purpose to demonstrate with fact and data that your solutions solve the problem?, During which phase of DMAIC (define measure analyze improve control) will you identify the root cause(s) of the problem?, lean story board, lean storyboard, Six sigma project storyboard template, a3 DMAIC, dmaic form, DMAIC of warehouse, six sigma operational definition example, during which phase of DMAIC is the sole purpose to demonstrate with fact and data that your solutions solve the problem, D M A I C, six sigma dmaic example, dmaic in lean six sigma, six sigma purpose of the measure phase, the frame work of six sigma programme, dmaic phase 1 define, DMAIC quality improvement framework, what is dmaic in lean, main purpose of the measure phase of dmaic is to, using dmaic for a paper airplane, purpose of lean six sigma, dmaic story board, final project storyboard lean six sigma, explain the dmaic process, framework of sixth sigma, storyboard in Lean, the frame-work of six sigma programme, storyboardleansixsigma, dmaic quality process, during which phase of the dmaic process would you investigate and understand the causes of variation and waste in a business process?, suggestion board lean, the main purpose of the measure phase of dmaic, dmaic tool lean manufacturing, framework for lean quality, six sigma project storyboard, which phase of dmaic is designed to insure that the problem does not reoccur, lean sigma dmaic phase, lean sigma images, lean sigma pictures, Lean Sigma/DMAIC framework, sample project storyboard for six sigma, lean six dmaic, picture for lean six sigma, paper plane example six sigma, operations management and lean six sigma, lean six sigma measure picture, lean operations framework, Lean Management elements Six Sigma DMAIC, six sigma frame work

Related Articles: