When I first started learning about lean Six Sigma and familiarizing myself with all the different terminology and methodologies, I was a little overwhelmed and confused by all the abbreviations: FMEA, C&E matrix, Gage R&R, SIPOC... the list seemed endless. However, I really got tripped up by the abbreviations beginning with “D”: DMAIC, DMADV, and DFSS.

These abbreviations stand for project methodologies that are commonly used with lean and Six Sigma, which help quality improvement practitioners keep their projects focused with an established route to follow for completion.

Define, measure, analyze, design, verify (DMADV) and design for Six Sigma (DFSS) are synonymous in that they are about designing new processes. Define, measure. analyze, improve, control (DMAIC) is well-known and the most used system for improving existing processes in a continuous effort to reduce defects.

DMADV includes these phases:
D—Define process and design goals. Make your goals distinct.
M—Measure your capabilities to produce the process/product, identify and measure the associated risks to determine the features that are critical to quality (CTQ).
A—Analyze to develop process designs and evaluate to select the best design for your process.
D—Design process details and optimize your design. Test your design(s).
V—Verify the chosen design for your process with pilot-testing. Implement and monitor the new process.

DMAIC includes these phases:
D—Define the problem with your product or process.
M—Measure your current process performance and collect data.
A—Analyze the collected data, use statistical tools to find the root cause of the problem, and determine if the process can be improved or should be redesigned.
I—Improve your process based upon your data analysis and test it. Techniques like design of experiments (DOE) are often used in this phase.
C—Control your improved process. Monitor the data and use statistical process control (SPC) measures so deviations can be corrected before causing defects.

Eston Martz’s Sept. 9, 2011, blog post highlighted the best ways to ensure your lean Six Sigma Project succeeds based on a Minitab survey of nearly 200 Six Sigma practitioners at all skill levels from major companies.

One of the most important components of good project selection is choosing a project most likely to benefit from the DMAIC approach. In other words, a good project involves a measurable defect, or a process for which changes can be measured accurately. However, whether you are using DMAIC or DMADV, the real benefit of these methodologies is picking an approach and sticking with it without skipping any steps or phases.

To help quality practitioners stick to the DMAIC approach, Minitab software offers a few special features:

In Quality Companion 3, the customizable road map is delivered with a DMAIC template that includes coaches with suggested project-based soft tools and forms at each phase. If your quality team had additional steps, they can easily be added to the road map to create your own template for future projects.

In Minitab 16, the DMAIC toolbar can be used to access the statistical tools needed for a lean Six Sigma project that follows DMAIC:

To display the DMAIC toolbar in Minitab 16, choose Tools > Manage Profiles. Then move DMAIC into the Active Profiles field. Ensure it’s the only item under Active Profiles. Then click OK, and the DMAIC Toolbar should appear.

What lean Six Sigma project methodologies do you follow when conducting a quality improvement project?