In: Operations Management
Why do you feel the Control Phase is necessary? What can happen, over time, to changes that have been implemented to eliminate a problem?
Control stage is important to ensure that initiatives created during the Improve phase are well implemented and sustained over time. During this phase various tools are used to ensure variables are within control limit. Proper execution of activities is checked, control charts are employed and the effectiveness of initiatives is also measured.
If left unchecked, over a time, the initiatives implemented will revert to initial stage under the pressure of existing organizational culture. Until the improved processes become part of the culture, they have to be closely monitored and tracked so they don't die a natural death and things roll back to initial state