ABSTRACT
The main purpose of the Measure phase is to establish a clear as-is picture of where the existing process is today and to make sure that the tools used to measure the activity are reliable and valid. In this phase, particular attention needs to be paid in eliminating information that is judgmental or biased. In the Measure phase, tasks are related to recording defects, mistakes, or variations and identifying process improvement opportunities. The measurements must be reliable and valid. In Lean Six Sigma, think of reliable as relating to the measurement tool itself. One of the major activities of Lean Six Sigma is gathering data. Key tools include the following: Process mapping (detailed look), Input and output definition (Xs and Ys), Benchmarking, Scorecards, Critical-to-quality (CTQ)s–measurement, capability metrics Cp and Pp Index, Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), Sigma calculations, Measurement systems analysis (MSA), Data collection plan. In the Measure phase, the chart would be used strictly for data collection purposes.
