ABSTRACT
In the DMAIC model, the brainstorming of solutions does not take place until after all the data have been captured and analyzed, in Phase 2 and Phase 3, Measure and Analyze. Both the list of solutions and the subsequent project plan do not happen until Phase 4, Improve. The theory being that a good list of solutions cannot be created without clearly defining the problem, creating a measurement system, and then doing intense analysis. The advantage is that when a list is created after defining, measuring and analyzing the response will not be “We tried that before and it didn’t work,” because the project manager would already have that information. Comments such as “we cannot afford that solution” would not be voiced because the project manager would know how to proactively address this concern if they worked through the first three phases of the DMAIC.
