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Five Steps of Lean Six Sigma

This course explores the Lean Six Sigma methodology’s five steps to continuous process improvement.

This course explores the Lean Six Sigma methodology’s five steps to continuous process improvement. It provides a closer look at the define, measure, analyze, improve, and control steps, collectively referred to as DMAIC. It further highlights how mastery of these concepts enables one both to assess improvements that have already been made and to standardize further processes. 

Learning Objectives

  • Know the five phases of Lean Six Sigma
  • Learn how to move through the steps of continuous improvement
  • Assess prior work and plan new work

Author: Paul van Putten

Duration: 12m · 6 lessons
Level: Beginner
Language: English

Skills you’ll gain

Lean Six SigmaSix Sigma MethodologyLean Six Sigma Black BeltLean Six Sigma CertificationLean Six Sigma Master Black BeltLean Six Sigma White Belt

What You'll Learn

  • Identify the five phases of Lean Six Sigma known collectively as DMAIC
  • Move through the define, measure, analyze, improve, and control steps of continuous improvement
  • Assess process improvements that have already been made
  • Plan and standardize further processes for ongoing improvement
  • Apply each DMAIC step to drive continuous process improvement

Key Takeaways

  • Lean Six Sigma uses five steps for continuous process improvement: define, measure, analyze, improve, and control, collectively referred to as DMAIC.
  • Mastering the DMAIC concepts enables a learner to assess improvements that have already been made.
  • Understanding these steps helps standardize further processes for ongoing improvement.
  • The course examines each DMAIC step in closer detail to support moving through continuous improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this course cover?

It explores the Lean Six Sigma methodology's five steps to continuous process improvement, taking a closer look at the define, measure, analyze, improve, and control steps, collectively referred to as DMAIC.

What is DMAIC?

DMAIC is the collective name for the five Lean Six Sigma steps covered in this course: define, measure, analyze, improve, and control.

What skills will I gain from this course?

The course addresses skills in Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma Methodology, and Lean Six Sigma certification levels including White Belt, Black Belt, and Master Black Belt.

How is the course structured?

The course is organized into lessons covering Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control, followed by a Test Your Knowledge section.

Transcript

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(upbeat music) Lean Six Sigma is made up of five distinct steps. In unison, these steps are known as define, measure, analyze, improve, and control. These five steps can be shortened to DMAIC and they must take place for a project to be considered a Lean Six Sigma project. Let's take some time to discuss how these steps can be implemented. The initial stage of Lean Six Sigma is the define stage. It's during this stage that the problem or process is discussed and defined. During the define phase, the main question you will ask is what. What is your project and what process are you going to improve? What can you do to improve the process? The answer to these questions can be stated by anyone in the company: senior management, middle management or employees. An example of the define stage is a company that is seeing errors in their production of hard drives. Once the error is identified, it has to be defined. What are the errors? Are the errors in the area of storage? Are they in the area of use? You can't hope to solve a problem that hasn't been specifically identified, so your Lean Six Sigma project should always start with this step.

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