Question

1: The DMAIC Technique

1. Describe what DMAIC means and how is it used in quality management.
2. Describe all the key steps in the DMAIC process
3. For each step describe, sketch diagrams or describe data where appropriate for at least 3 components in each step of this process improvement technique

4. If a Quality audit was needed to determine the root cause of a product failure suggest, describe and explain why specific DMAIC steps, components and tools might be the most important to apply for discovering and resolving the product failures.

Answer 1

Operations Management

1: The DMAIC Technique (15 Marks)

a. Describe what DMAIC means and how is it used in quality management.

b. Describe all the key steps in the DMAIC process

c. For each step describe, sketch diagrams or describe data where appropriate for at least 3 components in each step of this process improvement technique

a. If a Quality audit was needed to determine the root cause of a product failure suggest, describe and explain why specific DMAIC steps, components and tools might be the most important to apply for discovering and resolving the product failures.

Answers:

Question A. Describe what DMAIC means and how is it used in quality management.

Answer:

DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control)

DMAIC is a process which includes data-driven improvement cycle for improving business processes. DMAIC improvement cycle is used to drive Six-Sigma Projects.

Meaning Six-Sigma and Six-Sigma Projects:

Six-Sigma is a method for improving the quality of a business process by eliminating its defects.

Six-Sigma Projects measure the cost benefit of improving business processes.

DMAIC use in quality management:

Implementation of DMAIC cycle improves the business process by eliminating its defects. Which further enhances the quality of the process and the quality is managed in a better and cost effective manner.

Question B: Describe all the key steps in the DMAIC process.

Answer: The five key steps in the DMAIC Process are:

1. Define: The purpose of this step is to describe the problem of the business, its goals, its scope etc.

2. Measure: The purpose of this step is to establish the proposed measurement system, which will help the team to determine whether the significant improvement had been made as planned at the end of the project.

3. Analyze: The purpose of this step is to make analyses of the root cause problem of the project. A Data collection plan is formed and the data is collected to check each root cause to the project metric. This process repeats till the time the valid root cause is identified. Many tools are used within Six Sigma for better analysis technique.

4. Improve: The purpose of this step is to find a solution to the root cause and implement that solution to the problem. Different tools like DOE or techniques like Six Thinking Hats, etc. are utilized to come up with the best solution.

5. Control: The last step of DMAIC improvement method is to control the problem by implanting the changes and ensuring the sustainability of the change in the project. For this step, control charts and effective plans are formed for amending the ways of working and making benefits out of it.

Question c: For each step describe, sketch diagrams or describe data where appropriate for at least 3 components in each step of this process improvement technique?

Answer:

1. Define: This step has the following components:

a. Identify Stakeholders and Team Members.

b. Develop a Team Charter.

c. Define the defects.

2. Improvement: This step has the following components:

a. Develop a measurement plan.

b. Prepare a cause and effect matrix.

c. Checking performance data.

3. Analyze: This step has the following components:

a. Analysis over the data is performed.

b. Identifying specific problem.

c. Identifying root cause.

4. Improve: This step has the following components:

a. Generate solutions and ideas.

b. Select the best solution.

c. Develop a plan to implement solution.

5. Control: This step has the following components:

a. Implementation of the plan to control.

b. Implanting the changes.

c. Checking its impacts.

Question a: If a Quality audit was needed to determine the root cause of a product failure suggest, describe and explain why specific DMAIC steps, components and tools might be the most important to apply for discovering and resolving the product failures.

Answer:

Due to the following reasons:

1. DMAIC's 5 steps allow a business process team to scope a problem, measure the current performance, make analysis and verify improvement recommendation along with their implementation for sustainability in the longer run.

2. DMAIC steps are easy to understand and are very logical in their sequence.

3. DMAIC tool provide context for continuous improvement and are not rigid.

4. The basis DMAIC road map can form the backbone of any process improvement initiative.

5. DMAIC is based on Six-Sigma which is a strong tool to eliminate any quality issues in the process.

6. DMAIC 5 steps are a strong and effective process to discover the defects in the process and resolving the failures.

7. Many business processes have utilized DMAIC and have been successful in resolving the defects along with improving the quality of the products or services.