MEASURE phase of DMAIC

Now that you have a project with a clearly defined improvement opportunity, the current state of the process must be measured. All successful operations have metrics that provide a snap-shot of what is happening. Use these same metrics over a defined period of time to capture anything and everything that takes place in the process. Be sure to calculate averages and any variances. LEAN techniques can typically help your averages while Six Sigma will help alleviate deviations.

Before taking any measurements, have a discussion concerning what needs to be measured. I have taken part on many projects teams that get into a project only to discover that the correct metrics were not considered. This will always set the team back; be innovative and do it right the first time.

Prior to beginning the MEASURE phase, you should have a grasp of the current state of the process. A current state value stream map is a great tool to visualize this. The map can be as detailed as necessary. Plugging metrics into the cVSM will provide a visual way to identify steps to focus resources on.

Once the metrics are complete and accurate, don't make assumptions. Most people believe they know the root causes before any data is analyzed; don't fall into this trap. It is time to move on to the ANALYZE phase.