Many people are familiar with Six Sigma, a set of management techniques that helps companies minimize the likelihood of errors and improve the customer experience. Your company may have even chosen to implement Six Sigma and if this is the case, they probably implemented it using DMAIC.
If Six Sigma is the methodology, then DMAIC serves as the roadmap for business to solve problems and improve their processes. DMAIC is an acronym that stands for define, measure, analysis, improvement, and control.
Measurement is the first step that leads to control and eventually to improvement. If you can’t measure something, you can’t understand it. If you can’t understand it, you can’t control it. If you can’t control it, you can’t improve it.H. James Harrington
This article will look more deeply at each of the five steps involved, the history behind it, and the benefits of using it to implement Six Sigma.
What is DMAIC?
Companies choose to implement Six Sigma so they can reduce variation and waste in their organization. This can be accomplished through three different strategies: DMAIC, DMADV, and DSFF. For this purpose of this article, we will only be looking at DMAIC.
DMAIC is often considered to be the building blocks of the Six Sigma methodology. By using it, businesses can begin to make improvements without unnecessary experimentation.
The acronym stands for define, measurement, analysis, improvement, and control and it has helped many businesses reduce errors. Here is a closer look at each of the five steps involved:
Define
In the define phase you should ask yourself two very important questions:
- What is the problem?
- How has the problem affected my company?
Once you have the answer to those two questions, you can begin defining the goals of your project. Then you can evaluate all your available resources, support, and create a plan. Helpful tools to use during this phase are a project charter or a workflow diagram.
Measurement
During the measurement phase, you need to look closely at the system you already have in place so you can see what is and isn’t working. Once you have measured all the data you can determine the root of the problem and start figuring out ways to fix it. A data collection plan is a helpful tool to have on hand during this phase.
In the analysis phase, you need to analyze your findings from the measurement phase. By analyzing the data you can narrow down the root cause of waste and error. A cause and effect diagram is a good tool to use during this phase.
Now that you understand the problem, it’s time to brainstorm possible solutions! During this phase, you can come up with possible solutions, test and implement these solutions, and make any necessary changes.
Control
Your work has only just begun when you implement a new process; now it’s time to maintain that process. This final stage in DMAIC involves making continuous improvements and coming up with strategies that will maintain the effectiveness of your process.
Businesses can implement many positive changes by using DMAIC but these changes will only last when employees do the work of constantly improving them. It is helpful to create a control plan and to clearly define the roles and responsibilities of everyone who will help maintain the process.
The History of DMAIC
You may not realize that DMAIC was not part of the original development of Six Sigma in the 1980’s. Originally, when Six Sigma was developed at Motorola it was called the “Six Steps to Six Sigma”. Those steps can be summarized below:
- Identify the product or service being provided.
- Define who the customer is and what is important to them.
- Identify what you need to provide that product or service.
- Describe the process for completing your work.
- Improve the process by eliminating variation and waste.
- Continually improve the process by measuring, analyzing, and controlling the process.
While there are similarities to DMAIC it was actually introduced later. DMAIC is now a core component of Six Sigma and has helped many businesses achieve meaningful, long-lasting results.
The Benefits of DMAIC
Many businesses have implemented Six Sigma and experienced massive transformations in their revenue and the customer experience. Six Sigma can help companies improve their bottom line and improve the quality of their product or service. Here are three key advantages of using DMAIC to implement Six Sigma:
- Higher revenue
When companies streamline their processes through DMAIC they will have higher levels of productivity. As they begin to increase their production with fewer defects they will typically begin to bring in more revenue.
- Decreased Cost
Many companies don’t realize how much time and resources they are wasting. DMAIC helps companies reduce the amount of wasted time and resources which will save them money in the long run.
- Increased productivity
The sole purpose of implementing Six Sigma is to reduce waste. This will increase an organization’s productivity as they are able to produce more while using fewer resources.
Conclusion
DMAIC is a five-step process that focuses on improving quality while minimizing defects in a process. It has helped Six Sigma to become a process that delivers effective results for many businesses. DMAIC serves as a roadmap for helping businesses find solutions and produce better results.
By using DMAIC, businesses can improve the quality of their products and services, increase their revenue, and decrease their overall costs. However, even though it is a proven strategy its effectiveness depends mostly on how well it is implemented and maintained.
The truth is, over 60 percent of companies who use DMAIC to implement Six Sigma do not achieve the results they were hoping for. This can happen when companies stop implementing each of the five steps and fall back into the old habits that created the original problems.
Tallyfy’s workflow app gives businesses a way to sustain the progress they made by using DMAIC. By using our interactive software you can create and run your processes in just minutes and then track your processes. This will ensure your workflow processes are done correctly and with consistency. For more information, you can look at our case studies or sign up for your free 30-day trial.
Related Questions
Is DMAIC the same as Six Sigma?
DMAIC isn’t exactly the same as Six Sigma – it’s actually a problem-solving method used within Six Sigma. Think of Six Sigma as a complete toolkit for improving business processes, while DMAIC is the main wrench in that toolkit. Six Sigma is the overall approach to reducing mistakes and improving quality, while DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) is the step-by-step method used to tackle specific problems.
Is DMAIC the same as kaizen?
While both DMAIC and kaizen aim to improve processes, they work differently. Kaizen is about making small, continuous improvements every day, like constantly tidying your desk to work better. DMAIC is more like a planned home renovation – it’s a structured project with clear steps and a defined endpoint. Kaizen is ongoing and involves everyone, while DMAIC is typically used for bigger, specific problems that need a detailed approach.
What are the 5 steps of Six Sigma?
The 5 steps of DMAIC in Six Sigma are Define (clearly state the problem), Measure (gather data about the current situation), Analyze (find the root causes), Improve (implement and test solutions), and Control (maintain the improvements). Each step builds on the previous one, like climbing stairs to reach a better process.
When should you use DMAIC?
DMAIC works best when you’re facing complex problems with unclear causes, especially when data can help find solutions. It’s perfect for situations like reducing customer complaints, speeding up delivery times, or cutting down on product defects. If your problem needs a thorough investigation and long-term fix, DMAIC is your go-to approach.
What’s the difference between DMAIC and PDCA?
DMAIC and PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) are like cousins in the process improvement family. PDCA is simpler and faster, good for quick improvements. DMAIC is more detailed and data-driven, perfect for complex problems that need deep analysis. Think of PDCA as a quick recipe and DMAIC as a gourmet cooking course.
How long does a DMAIC project take?
A typical DMAIC project usually takes between 3 to 6 months to complete. However, the timeline can vary based on the problem’s complexity, team availability, and organization size. Some simple projects might wrap up in 8 weeks, while more complicated ones could take up to a year.
Who should be involved in a DMAIC project?
A successful DMAIC project needs a mix of people: a project leader (usually a Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt), process owners, subject matter experts, and team members who work with the process daily. It’s like putting together a sports team – you need different skills and perspectives to win the game.
How do you measure DMAIC success?
Success in DMAIC is measured through concrete improvements in key metrics, like reduced defects, faster processing times, or cost savings. You should see clear before-and-after differences in your data, customer satisfaction scores, or financial results. The improvements should also stick around long after the project ends.
What common mistakes should you avoid in DMAIC?
Common DMAIC pitfalls include rushing through the early steps, not collecting enough data, jumping to solutions too quickly, and forgetting about the Control phase. It’s like building a house – skipping the foundation work might save time initially, but it’ll cause problems later.
Can DMAIC be used in non-manufacturing settings?
Absolutely! While DMAIC started in manufacturing, it works great in services, healthcare, finance, and even education. The principles of measuring, analyzing, and improving processes apply anywhere there’s a workflow that needs fixing. It’s like a Swiss Army knife – versatile and useful in many situations.
