DMAIC Tools

DMAIC templates for the DMAIC process for quality improvement

There is the DMAIC Process,

and there are (literally) hundreds of quality improvement tools, lean tools, DFSS tools, and other process improvement tools that are each useful in different circumstances in each of the 5 phases of the DMAIC process.

---

The DMAIC Process

The Lean Six Sigma DMAIC process is a scientific method for process improvement

(similar to PDCA)

---

When and Why to use

the DMAIC Methodology

DMAIC tools were never intended to be used in isolation

When to choose the DMAIC Methodology

There are lots of problem solving tools and methods to choose from.

The DMAIC process is the right choice when:

1. The problem that you're trying to solve is related to an issue with Quality
2. It's an operational problem (not a design problem)
3. Your boss doesn't have some other problem solving method that he or she prefers to use

---

---

how

How to use your

DMAIC templates

This training section provides a roadmap of the DMAIC process,

with special emphasis on which templates might prove most useful for each of the DMAIC phases.

Before getting started

We are assuming that you already completed the foundational Quick Start Training

so that you know how to find and open your templates,

and you know how to find help and training for every one of your 150+ templates.

DMAIC Phase 1)

Define

Define problems, customer wants, processes, and boundaries

Tools to consider using for this first phase might include:

Team Charter

Most commonly, you will use your Team Charter template (TeamCharter.xlsx)

but for some types of teams, some leaders prefer:

SIPOC (SIPOC.xlsx)

A3 Report (A3Report.docx)

Team Leadership templates

When you download your free trials,

you also receive leadership templates to launch any team

that you can use for the rest of your career (as a free gift)

Voice of the Customer templates

You have an entire suite of Voice of the Customer templates to make it easier to:

1. Gather data from your customer listening posts
2. Interpret it consistently
3. Translate customer comments into engineering specifications
4. Perform Kano Analysis
5. Maybe use your Cause & Effect Matrix
6. Maybe do a (very) thorough QFD House of Quality

Lean Management Systems

One of the primary purposes of Lean Management Systems is to make really obvious what is normal, and what is (at the moment) abnormal (and therefor needing management attention)

• Visual Management Systems
• Leader Standard Work
• 5S Audits
• Lean Assessment Audits
• Strategic Targets

DMAIC Phase 2)

Measure

Most of the tools specified above to Define the problem also have features to collect and measure relevant data.

There are literally hundreds of additional tools to measure processes in different ways.

Some of the most popular include:

• Process Observation Time Study tools
• Layout Diagram
• Trend Analysis / Run Chart
• SPC Statistical Process Control Chart
• Basic Quality Tools

DMAIC Phase 3)

Analyze

Most of the tools specified above for Measure also have features to Analyze the data that you collected.

Process Flow

Lean (not six sigma) is particularly focused on optimizing flow

• Value Stream Map (for flow between processes)
• Cross Functional Flowchart (for flow within processes)
• Other types of flowcharts (for many other types of flow)
• Product Family Matrix

DMAIC Phase 4)

Improve

The primary tool used to improve a process is the human mind.

There is no substitute for Hansei questions to stimulate Lean Thinking.

Some tools that are particularly effective to stimulate and guide human thinking include:

DMAIC Phase 5)

Control

By far the most important tools for control are your Standard Work tools.

---

 

Own all of these DMAIC templates

 

to empower every team member