In the fourth article in this series, you'll learn about the DMAIC Improve phase. Key components of this phase include brainstorming potential solutions, evaluating and selecting solutions and putting the improvements into practice. Tools include pilot testing, FMEA, Pareto charts, and ANOVA.
Objectives of Improve Phase
The goal of the DMAIC Improve phase is to identify a solution to the problem that the project aims to address. This involves brainstorming potential solutions, selection solutions to test and evaluating the results of the implemented solutions. Often a pilot implementation is conducted prior to a full-scale rollout of improvements.
Identifying Potential Solutions
In the first stage of Improve it is important to include the people who are involved in performing the process. Their input regarding potential improvements is critical, and this step should not be completed by the project team alone. In fact, it is wise to maintain communication with those who work on the process throughout any Six Sigma quality improvement project.
A variety of techniques are used to brainstorm potential solutions to counter the root cause(s) identified in Analyze. Encouraging participants to challenge rules and assumptions, ban excuses and think like small children can be very effective. For those who prefer a more structured brainstorming exercising, specific techniques are available, but often participants are more than able to produce a substantial list of ideas on their own.
It is important during this stage that ideas not be judged nor eliminated. Even an outlandish idea that couldn't possibly be implemented as first suggested may lead to a related idea that is an ideal solution. Similar to other aspects of a Six Sigma project, assumptions about what can or can not be accomplished should not be accepted without confirmation.
Selecting Solutions to Implement
As in the prior step, it is a good idea to involve the people who work on the process that is being improved, be included in the decisions regarding which potential improvements to implement. With their help, the project team establishes criteria for evaluating the proposed improvements in an objective manner. Criteria usually include time line for implementation, financial cost, the extent to which root causes are likely to be countered and the overall ease of implementation. Some teams consider other factors such is the amount of buy-in that already exists for each possible change.
Not all criteria are created equal, so the team may want to assign weights to each criterion prior to evaluating the proposed solutions against each one. Tools to assist with the evaluation include a priority matrix and a Pugh matrix, both of which use basic calculations and ratings to compare the solutions against each other or against a standard. Occasionally a computer model or other simulation can be beneficial in the evaluation process.
The goal of this step is to determine the appropriate solutions to implement using objective means, rather than making a decision based on assumptions or preferences. This is a common theme throughout the Six Sigma methodology.
The Six Sigma DMAIC Process
This series provides an introduction to the Six Sigma DMAIC process, and a more in-depth look at each of the individual phases. You'll learn about the objectives of each phase and common tools to help you reach them.