DMAIC

Almost every organisation has improvement projects. Unfortunately, in 80% of the cases, organizations fail to successfully implement the desired changes .
This is often due to resistance from the workers or unclear agreements between vision and strategy.

To be among that 20% of successful change-agents, it is important to know clearly what the problem is and how it translates into quantitative data. That’s very important in the final translation of the customer requirement into business processes.

5 steps within DMAIC

The basis from which Six Sigma works is the DMAIC-model. This consists of the following five steps:

1. Define: In the Define-phase, we define the problem by answering the following questions:
   • Who is the customer?
   • What is important to them?
   • What process is involved?
   • How do we capture the outcomes?
2. Measure: In the Measure-phase, relevant data are measured and collected.
   The process will be mapped out. In addition, we implement a measurement system analysis and determine the size of the problem.
3. Analysis: In the Analysis-phase, we analyse the collected data.
   Here we determine the influencers of the problem, conduct a data and process analysis and identify the biggest (root-)causes. One of the seven basic quality analysis tools is the Ishikawa-diagram.
4. Improve: In the Improve-phase, improvements are conceived, tested and implemented. This involves finding solutions to the biggest causes, selecting the best solutions and then implementing them.
5. Control: The Control-phase is about sustaining and managing the improved process. Securing the implemented solution is important here, for example by setting up a permanent measurement that tracks process performance.