Lean Six Sigma White Belt: DMAIC Methodology

Define: Define the problem or opportunity for improvement
- Identify the problem statement, goals, and expectations
- Establish the project scope and boundaries
Measure: Collect data to understand the current process
- Identify key process metrics and data collection methods
- Establish a baseline for process performance
Analyze: Analyze the data to identify root causes of problems
- Identify relationships between variables and potential root causes
- Develop and test hypotheses
Improve: Develop and implement solutions
- Identify and evaluate potential solutions
- Select and implement the best solution
Control: Implement controls to sustain the improvement
- Monitor and adjust the process to ensure ongoing improvement
- Document the new process and lessons learned

Identify opportunities for improvement: Look for areas where processes can be streamlined, simplified, or eliminated
Analyze processes: Map out the process, identify inefficiencies, and quantify the impact of changes
Implement changes: Develop and implement solutions, monitor results, and adjust as needed
Monitor and control: Establish metrics and controls to ensure ongoing improvement

Customer focus: Meet customer requirements and expectations
Leadership: Establish a quality-focused culture and vision
Involvement of people: Engage employees in quality improvement efforts
Process approach: Manage processes to achieve desired outcomes
Systems approach to management: Manage interrelated processes as a system
Continual improvement: Encourage and facilitate ongoing improvement
Factual approach to decision-making: Base decisions on data and analysis
Mutual beneficial supplier relationships: Collaborate with suppliers to improve quality

Statistical process control (SPC): Monitor and control process performance
Regression analysis: Analyze the relationship between variables
Hypothesis testing: Test hypotheses about process performance
Design of experiments (DOE): Identify the impact of variables on process outcomes
Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA): Identify and mitigate potential failures
Root cause analysis (RCA): Identify the underlying causes of problems

Define phase: Identify problem statement, goals, and expectations, and establish project scope and boundaries
Measure phase: Collect data to understand current process, identify key process metrics, and establish a baseline for process performance
Analyze phase: Identify relationships between variables, develop and test hypotheses, and identify root causes of problems
Improve phase: Identify and evaluate potential solutions, select and implement the best solution, and develop and implement solutions
Control phase: Monitor and adjust the process to ensure ongoing improvement, document the new process, and establish controls to sustain the improvement

Identify opportunities for improvement: Streamline, simplify, or eliminate processes
Analyze processes: Map out processes, identify inefficiencies, and quantify impact of changes
Implement changes: Develop and implement solutions, monitor results, and adjust as needed
Monitor and control: Establish metrics and controls to ensure ongoing improvement

Customer focus: Meet customer requirements and expectations
Leadership: Establish a quality-focused culture and vision
Involvement of people: Engage employees in quality improvement efforts
Process approach: Manage processes to achieve desired outcomes
Systems approach to management: Manage interrelated processes as a system
Continual improvement: Encourage and facilitate ongoing improvement
Factual approach to decision-making: Base decisions on data and analysis
Mutual beneficial supplier relationships: Collaborate with suppliers to improve quality

Statistical process control (SPC): Monitor and control process performance
Regression analysis: Analyze relationship between variables
Hypothesis testing: Test hypotheses about process performance
Design of experiments (DOE): Identify impact of variables on process outcomes
Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA): Identify and mitigate potential failures
Root cause analysis (RCA): Identify underlying causes of problems

Define phase: Identify problems and opportunities for improvement to establish a clear understanding of the process
Measure phase: Collect data to understand the current process, identify opportunities for improvement, and establish baselines
Analyze phase: Identify the root causes of problems using statistical methods and tools
Improve phase: Develop and implement solutions to address the root causes of problems
Control phase: Monitor and sustain the improved process to ensure continued improvement

Identify areas for improvement in a process to eliminate waste and variability
Streamline processes to increase efficiency and effectiveness, resulting in improved customer satisfaction and reduced costs
Focus on process optimization to achieve desired outcomes

Focus on customer needs and expectations to ensure customer satisfaction
Ensure consistency and reliability of products and services through process control and monitoring
Encourage employee involvement and empowerment to drive continuous improvement
Continuously monitor and improve processes to ensure quality and reliability

Value principle: Focus on activities that add value to the customer, eliminating non-value-added activities
Value Stream principle: Identify and optimize the flow of value-added activities to improve efficiency
Flow principle: Create a smooth flow of processes and activities to reduce waste and variability
Pull principle: Produce and deliver only what is needed, when it is needed, to reduce inventory and waste
Perfection principle: Continuously improve and strive for perfection, eliminating errors and defects

Statistical process control (SPC) methods: Monitor and control processes to ensure quality and reliability
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA): Identify and mitigate risks to ensure process reliability
Regression analysis: Understand relationships between variables to optimize processes and products
Design of Experiments (DOE): Optimize processes and products through experimentation and analysis

Design processes and products to prevent errors and defects, reducing waste and variability
Use Poka-Yoke (error-proofing) techniques to detect and prevent mistakes
Implement checks and balances to ensure accuracy and quality
Continuously monitor and improve mistake-proofing methods to ensure reliability and quality