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.
Improvement
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 the same as Six Sigma – it’s instead a problem-solving approach within Six Sigma. Think of Six Sigma as a toolbox for improving business processes, and DMAIC is the primary wrench in that box. Six Sigma is the broader, corporate program to reduce mistakes and defects that result in higher quality, whereas DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) is the process improvement technique using steps.
Is DMAIC the same as kaizen?
Although DMAIC and kaizen have the same process-improvement target, they take different approaches. Kaizen is about making small, continous improvements everyday like constantly straightening up your desk to work better. It’s more like working on a planned home renovation – it’s a structured project with a set sequence of steps and a defined end. Kaizen is continuous and everybody participates in it; DMAIC is a methodology often employed to solve bigger problems and situations which require a more comprehensive approach.
What are the 5 steps of Six Sigma?
The five steps in DMAIC process of Six Sigma is an acronym of Define (a clear definition of the problem), Measure (collecting data on the current state), Analyse (search for the root causes), Improve (implementation and test of solutions) and Control (keeping the level of improvement). One step leads logically to the next, much like ascending a staircase to a better process.
When should you use DMAIC?
DMAIC is most useful when you’re in a situation where problems are complex and it’s not obvious what the cause is, especially when data will help you to figure out a solution. It is ideal for scenarios such as lowering customer complaints, accelerating delivery times or minimizing product defects. When your problem requires a deep dive and permanent solution, you want to use DMAIC.
What’s the difference between DMAIC and PDCA?
DMAIC and PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) are two cousins in the process improvement family. PDCA is more simple, fast and for quick improvements. The breakdown in DMAIC is more granular and data oriented, which is great for complex problems that require in depth analysis. PDCA is like a fast recipe and DMAIC is like a gourmet cooking class.
How long does a DMAIC project take?
An average DMAIC project length is usually 3-6 months. But this timeline can be different according the complexity of the issue, the availability of the team and the size of the organization. Some easy projects could conclude in 8 weeks; more complex ones might last up to a year.
Who should be involved in a DMAIC project?
A winning DMAIC project team is a combination of people: a project champion (typically a Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt), process owners, subject matter experts, and team members who operate the process day-to-day. It’s the sports analogy, you know: You need diverse skills and different perspectives to win the match.
How do you measure DMAIC success?
Success in DMAIC should be quantified by specific changes in measurements that are key to quality, whether they are lower defect rates, quicker cycle times, or savings in cost. You need see black-and-white differences in your data, customer satisfaction scores, and if applicable, your financial results. The enhancements need to stick around long after the project is over, as well.
What common mistakes should you avoid in DMAIC?
Some common DMAIC traps are getting in too big a hurry through the early stages, Not getting enough data, going too quickly to solutions and never remembering to use Control. It is like building a house — you can skip the foundation, but in the end it will lead to trouble.
Can DMAIC be used in non-manufacturing settings?
Absolutely! Although it originated in manufacturing, DMAIC has proven to be highly effective across services, health care, finance, and even education. The rules for measuring, analyzing, and improving a process apply where ever there’s a workflow that needs fixing. It’s the Swiss Army knife of storytelling — versatile and useful in many contexts.
