DMAIC

Define
In the first stage, it will be necessary to objectively define the points that will be addressed and the
possibilities for improvement. Here, it will be essential to align the objectives that are intended to be
achieved, and to do so, it is necessary to involve the entire team. The more people involved, the
better.

It is in this phase that the participants who will lead the process will be defined. Ideally, a diverse
team should be formed, including individuals from various fields. This will provide the opportunity to
see the addressed points from a wide range of perspectives. In fact, a brainstorming session could be
conducted to assist in this process. Generally, the following steps are required:

 Form the team that will work on the project, selecting individuals specialized in different
areas so that various viewpoints can be utilized.
 Select the problems in an objective manner.
 Focus on the most relevant and feasible projects.
 Consider the improvements that can be made.

As mentioned, to aid in this stage, the brainstorming method and analysis of the company's KPIs
can be used.

Measure
The second stage involves measurement. In this phase, you will need to analyse the performance of
the chosen process before implementing the improvements (Baseline / Current Condition). This
allows for comparisons to be made after their implementation.

Simultaneously, the team will need to thoroughly study the current scenario of your business to
identify errors and successes, including:

 Evaluating the process performance and quantitatively analysing it before applying actions
(so that the performance can be compared before and after).
 Collecting data and information about the processes.
  Identifying the possible causes of the problems.

To complement this, several methods can be used in this stage, such as: Fishbone Diagram (Ishikawa
Diagram); Pareto Analysis; and Matrices (such as Cause and Effect Matrix, GUT Matrix, or any other
prioritization matrix). Let's discuss them.

Fishbone Diagram (Ishikawa Diagram)

It's also known as a cause-and-effect diagram, fishbone diagram, or 6M diagram. This is an important
tool to enhance the efficiency of the measurement.

Pareto Analysis
Pareto Analysis is one of the most well-known tools in the market. In fact, it's the one that introduces
the famous 80-20 rule.

According to this rule, it's considered that 20% of the causes are responsible for 80% of a company's
problems.

Therefore, to effectively address nearly all problems, it's sufficient to identify these top 20% causes
and focus on them.

Cause and Effect Matrix and GUT Matrix

The second one, GUT, also guides the manager in prioritizing the resolution of the majority of
problems.

Histograms or Box-plot
Histograms are useful tools for measurement. They consist of a bar graph that demonstrates the data
distribution.

Box plots are informative tools for data representation. They utilize a box-and-whisker structure to
provide a visual summary of data distribution and key statistical measures.

It's worth noting that this tool can also be used as an indicator of the feasibility of the entire process.

Descriptive Statistics
This tool relates to the initial stage of data analysis. It's used to assess and understand the process
information.

Process Map
The process map is a graphical representation of all activities that constitute a process within an
organization.

In this case, all relationships are made clear, showing who is responsible for each activity, from inputs
to outputs.

Analyse
This will be the moment to formulate actions to solve the issues raised in the first stage. Therefore,
it's the phase in which necessary improvements are assessed to address the root cause of the
problem. In summary, it's essential to:
  consider the root causes of issues affecting management.
 analyse the best ways to counteract these causes.
 create opportunities for improvement.

In this stage, the 5 Whys method can be used to identify root causes. In addition to it, there are other
methods, such as: FMEA, Scatter Diagram, and Hypothesis Testing.

5 Whys
This method is used to identify the root cause of a problem. The idea is to delve deeper into the
'whys' until the cause is reached.

It doesn't necessarily mean there are only 5 'whys'; there might be more or fewer, depending on the
problem. After all, the cause could be reached more quickly or more slowly.

FMEA
This methodology is known as Failure Mode and Effects Analysis. It's a tool that aims to identify
failures before producing a part or product.

It helps the manager find the project's reliability, that is, understand what's causing a problem.

Scatter Diagram
This is a type of quality tool that aims to analyse the relationship between two quantitative variables
through a graphical representation.

Hypothesis Testing
Hypothesis testing is a method in which you can accept or reject information about a particular
population.

Everything is obtained based on the data provided through a data sample."

Improve
The fourth stage is where you'll roll up your sleeves. In other words, it's from this point that the areas
analysed in the previous stage will be improved.

At this juncture, the team will test the potential actions, keeping a keen eye on the pros and cons. It's
also in the fourth stage that the action plan for changes is put into practice, which includes:

 previously testing potential actions, considering their positive and negative aspects.
 executing the action plan according to the specific needs of each process.
 implementing the changes.

As an additional approach, the 5W2H method can be employed, as it helps identify various action
possibilities that should be tested. In this case, these can be outlined as future steps, respecting
priorities.

It's important to emphasize that the implemented changes need to be monitored to track the
execution of the process.

Control
The final stage of the DMAIC methodology is control, ensuring that actions are being monitored and
undergoing continuous improvements.

In this phase, performance and results achieved through action plan execution will be monitored.
It's worth mentioning that, in this phase, company procedures need to be updated to enable
continuous improvement, in line with the implementations and changes that need to take place.

In this phase:

 Monitor the progress of the action plan to prevent it from getting off track.
 Establish control criteria (checklists, statistics, etc.).
 Analyse the overall performance of returns (financial or otherwise) from the process.
 Update procedures for continuous improvement, according to emerging needs.

Simultaneously, methods like Control Charts and OCAP can be used.

A3 Problem Solving