DMAIC

• Define who customers are, what their requirements are for products and services, and what their expectations are
• Define project boundaries ­ the stop and start of the process
• Define the process to be improved by mapping the process flow
  
  Measure the performance of the Core Business Process involved.
• Develop a data collection plan for the process
• Collect data from many sources to determine types of defects and metrics
• Compare to customer survey results to determine shortfall
  
  Analyze the data collected and process map to determine root causes of defects and opportunities for improvement.
• Identify gaps between current performance and goal performance
• Prioritize opportunities to improve
• Identify sources of variation
  
  Improve the target process by designing creative solutions to fix and prevent problems.
• Create innovate solutions using technology and discipline
• Develop and deploy implementation plan
  
  Control the improvements to keep the process on the new course.
• Prevent reverting back to the "old way"
• Require the development, documentation and implementation of an ongoing monitoring plan
• Institutionalize the improvements through the modification of systems and structures (staffing, training, incentives)
  From GE's DMAIC Approach, http://www.ge.com/capital/vendor/dmaic.htm