ABSTRACT
When entering the Analyze phase of the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC) model, the project manager (PM) has a clear idea of what process improvement needs to be explored and the current picture. The Analyze phase is the most labor-intensive. Many of the tools reviewed in Define or Measure are also used in the Analyze phase but may take on a different aspect. One of the objectives in this phase is to identify and analyze the gaps between current performance and desired performance. The tools that are primarily used in the Analyze phase are known by a number of different names. They are Flowchart/process mapping, Pareto chart, Histogram, Scatter diagram, Fishbone, Check sheet, Control chart. In Analyze, there are also more sophisticated tools that are used for mega-data, extremely difficult solutions, or safety issues. Statistical software is needed to use these tools appropriately although several can be reasoned out manually in a spreadsheet, such as a correlation analysis.
