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DMAIC Method in Six Sigma | 5 Phases |

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DMAICMethodologyExplainedwithExamples

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What is the DMAIC approach in Six Sigma?

→ DMAIC stands for its five steps – Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.
→ It is a structured methodology and it helps in achieving improvements by reducing
variation.
→ It is a data-driven approach for improvement.
→ This Methodology is used for improving, optimizing, and stabilizing business processes.

What is the Concept of Six Sigma Project?

→ 6𝞼 refers below concepts.
→ Y is the outcome that you desire from a process.
→ Y is a dependent factor and it depends on the X’s.
→ X represents the input factors that affect the result of the process.
→ There could be multiple X’s.
→ Ɛ represents the presence of error, or uncertainty surrounding how accurately the X’s are
transformed to create the outcome.
→ In other words, the input variable(X) is transformed by a function (or processes) and
combined with error to form the output.
→ The Y is a result or outcome or we can say Y is a function of X's.
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→ To determine the desired outcome, you apply a transformation process (or function (f))
on input.

➨ We will understand the above concept with the help of the below example,
→ We all know that the pizza should be delivered within 30 minutes.
→ That is our Y or final outcome. (the delivery time is our Y)
→ There are several factors affecting pizza delivery from the pizza shop to the customer's
home.
→ We assume that the pizza was not delivered within 30 minutes.
→ There may be many possible reasons like, due to heavy traffic, the driver did not know the
address, pizza was not prepared in time, the bike was punctured, the bike fuel was empty,
and many other reasons.
→ The reasons for not delivering the pizza on-time are “X’s”.
→ And the Ɛ can be the varying time of each activity throughout the delivery (or errors in
the processes).
→ After understanding this example, in order to get a result, should we focus on “Y” or “X”?

Where we have to focus during the Six Sigma project?

→ Whenever we do a 6𝝈 project, the focus of the team needs to be on identifying the
causes (i.e. focus on "X") and mitigating them.
→ The result (i.e. "Y') will automatically be improved if the causes (i.e. "X") are eliminated
properly.
→ In the above example, the reason for late delivery is the causes and the delivery on time
is the final outcome or result.
→ So the "X's" (i.e. the causes) are due to heavy traffic, the driver did not know the address,
pizza was not prepared in time, the bike was punctured, the bike fuel was empty, and many
other reasons.
→ Thus, focus on the Causes (X) and the result (Y) will automatically be improved.

Characteristics for Successful Six Sigma Projects:

→ The projects should be related to your day to day work.
→ It should be manageable in terms of time-frame.
→ It should be aligned with business goals, objectives, and also address only one CTQ
(Critical To Quality) parameter at a time.
→ Also, It should address issues that are important to the customer.
→ The improvements that you do should be locally actionable
→ In the above characteristics, we have a CTQ parameter.
→ Here, CTQ stands for Critical To Quality.
→ In easy language, CTQ is nothing but a metric that helps in measuring the extent of
performance.
→ CTQ can be of various types such as CTD (Critical to Delivery), CTP (Critical to Process),
and others.
→ Some of the examples of CTQ’s are cycle time, quality scores, Yield%, etc.
→ The scope of the 6𝞼 projects must be defined and limit the boundary it must not solve the
issues like global warming or the world’s pollution.
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What are the 5 steps of the Six Sigma improvement

model?
1. Define,
2. Measure,
3. Analyze,
4. Improve and HOME SITEMAP # ABOUT US PRIVACY POLICY DISCLAIME
5. Control

Measure ImproVE

Define Analyze Control

Q
Define phase in DMAIC:
→ The purpose of the Define stage is to clearly define the business problem or goal and
many more things depending on the project.
→ Also, keep a record of all details in the project charter.

➨ Activities in Define stage

→ Develop a problem statement
→ Define the goal statement
→ Record or note down the voice of the customer (VOC) and translate the VOCs into CTQs
(Critical to Quality) requirements.
→ Identify the benefits expected through the completion of the project (Business Case)
→ Define the Scope of the projects and identify resources
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→ Identify the champion, subject matter expert, and team members
→ Develop a Plan
→ Develop a High-Level Process Map - 3 Methods for as-is mapping
(1) SIPOC Diagram
(2) Value Stream Mapping (VSM Study)
(3) Process Flow Diagram (Flow Chart)
 Measure phase in DMAIC:
→ The purpose of the Measure step in 6𝞼 is to create a complete picture of the current
process state and establish current baselines.
→ To identify the baseline sigma level.
→ Use this baseline for setting the target as an improvement.

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➨ Activities of the Measure phase

→ Prepare detailed process maps with including long or incorrect cycle times, bottlenecks
or non-value added steps.
→ Also, identify where data has to be collected.
→ Develop Data Collection Plan
→ Validate the Measurement System
→ MSA and GRR Study can help for validating the measurement system
→ Collect the Data and the Control Chart can help identify any trends or outlying
measurements.
Analyze phase in DMAIC:
→ The purpose of this stage is to identify all possible causes and then find out the root
cause or causes.

➨ Activities of the Analyze phase

→ Analyze the Data
→ The data analyzing method is depending on the type of data collected.
→ Identify Causal Factors
→ Find out a valid root cause or causes by brainstorming.
→ The Fishbone Diagram (Cause & Effect Diagram) is also used to find out the root cause.
→ Another popular and effective method for root cause determining is 5 Why method
→ Scatter Diagram is also used for validation activity
Improve phase in DMAIC:
→ In this step, the 6𝞼 project team should identify, implement, and validate corrective
actions to resolve any issues.

➨ Activities of the Improve phase

→ Identify Potential Solutions
→ Analyze the cost-benefit analysis of the implementation of the solution.
→ By Brainstorming, the team should identify possible improvements that would increase
efficiency and improve product quality.
→ Analyze Failure Modes of Proposed Solutions
→ Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is often completed before the implementation
of any changes.
→ The FMEA helps the team identify and address potential failure modes that may arise due
to the improvements in the system or in the operation sequence.
→ Validate Improvements
→ Validation may be tested on prototype builds or on simulations.
→ Estimate the financial gains.
→ Validate the updated operation flow.
→ Develop a Risk Mitigation Plan and Process Control Plan.
→ Implement the solution as per planning
Control phase-in DMAIC
→ In this step, the team checks the sustainability of the changes were made during the
project.
→ Also, the team ensures the sustenance of implemented improvement.

➨ Activities of the Control phase

→ Update Documentation like Standard operating procedures (SOP's), Control plan,
Development plans, Process Maps, Work Instructions, Visual Aids, etc.
→ Give training to all associate about the changes were made during the project.
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→ Communicate about the updated roles and responsibilities.

→ Implement Statistical Process Control (SPC)
→ Create a Process Monitoring Plan
→ Celebrate the successful completion of the project with the team and top management.
→ Ensure an ongoing Process Monitoring Study is working properly.
→ Communicate to Business Results & sign off to close the Six Sigma Project
 Also Read:
1. What is 6𝜎 and Why is it 6𝜎? Complete Overview
2. DMEDI vs DMAIC
3. Six Sigma Project Members, Roles, and Responsibility

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See Also:
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➨ ISO 9001:2015
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 Tags Lean Six Sigma Problem Solving Method Six Sigma

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12 Comments

Unknown April 21, 2020 at 12:03 AM

here the picture of improve phase is missing, control phase picture has become double. pls
make it correct

Reply
%

Nikunj Bhoraniya # April 21, 2020 at 12:47 AM

Thank you for your feedback. We have updated the same. Kindly check the article.
 Maqsood Syed April 2, 2021 at 1:28 AM

Excellent!!

Reply
%

Nikunj Bhoraniya # May 3, 2021 at 11:05 PM

Thanks!!

Maqsood Syed April 2, 2021 at 1:28 AM

Excellent!!

Reply
%

Nikunj Bhoraniya # May 3, 2021 at 11:05 PM

Thanks!!!

Unknown October 18, 2021 at 11:54 PM

First of all amazing work Nikunj. Have looked at various articles on google and books,
everytime I wanted to understand the quality related stuff those used to be for someone
who had some fair knowledge about quality. Hence, I was very disinterested in the topic.
Lately, thanks to linkedin that I got a chance to view your articles and those were fab. Very
 simple and anyone could read and understand the concepts. The way these articles are
presented in simpke wirds along with illustrations I am getting so addicted to read your
articles on quality. Thank you for everything that you do. We could only see the final
outcome however there is a lot if work that is involved in the backend. Thanks a buch for
serving such an amazing content with all of us.

Reply
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Nikunj Bhoraniya # November 13, 2021 at 9:04 PM

Thank you for your kind words and feedback that is really very helpful for us and
motivates us!!!

Unknown January 4, 2022 at 10:20 AM

Thank you

Reply
%

Nikunj Bhoraniya # January 9, 2022 at 9:28 AM

You are welcome!!!

rahul January 4, 2022 at 1:54 PM

First of all this article is well written, I just want to add one more thing in it that during the
start you gave example of pizza delivery, so my thoughts are that can we not use this
example for all the steps so that people will be more confident when they will implement it.
Pls reply your kind thought

Reply
%

Nikunj Bhoraniya # January 9, 2022 at 9:27 AM

This example I have taken for simple understanding of the concepts because Pizza
is known by almost all people.
I hope, I have answered your query.
Thanks!!!
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