Overview/Description In the Analyze phase of the DMAIC methodology, a Six Sigma team begins to analyze the root causes of the problems that it identified in the earlier stages. This analysis may require churning out huge volumes of data of different types. Sometimes this data is of a multivariate nature, meaning that many dependent and independent variables need to be considered simultaneously. As such, Six Sigma teams often use advanced multivariate tools to manage this type of data. Data can also be of an attribute nature, for which Six Sigma teams use a different set of data analysis tools...

Overview/Description Getting to the source of why something has gone wrong in a system or process is critical to identifying the changes necessary for resolving the problem. During the Analyze phase of a Six Sigma project, a Black Belt practitioner utilizes a variety of statistical and nonstatistical tools and methods for analyzing systems and processes to identify variation and defects, reduce costs, eliminate waste, and reduce cycle time. While many of the tools used in the Analyze phase are statistical and quantitative in nature, there are many useful nonstatistical methods. Nonstatistical...

Overview/Description Probability distributions are an essential part of descriptive statistics that Six Sigma teams can use to assist in fitting collected data into various types of distributions. Probability distributions help to ascertain specific probability values in the distribution and lead the Six Sigma teams down the hypothesis testing roadmap to the next stage of the Six Sigma DMAIC process. Of course, all this is meaningless if the data you have gathered and used is not accurate or precise, which is where measurement systems analysis (MSA) comes into play. MSA is a task in the...

Overview/Description Albert Einstein is reputed to have said, "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." To solve quality and process-related problems, managers should continuously enhance their knowledge of organizational processes and quality management tools. These tools help managers find root causes of problems, an important step toward removing them. Success in ensuring quality and organizational excellence depends on how effectively managers apply these tools to solve quality and process-related problems. This...