Overview

The data collection, sorting, and presentations described in the Measure phase of the DMAIC process were done to assist the team to identify "what is happening to dependent (output) variable ( Y)." The next phase, known as the Analyze phase, will assist the team to identify "why it is happening." The Analyze phase also identifies root causes and how the input and the in-process variables, also known as independent variables ( Xs), impact the dependent variable ( Y). Although there may be numerous independent variables, the overall objective of the Analyze phase is to narrow a field of many independent variables ( Xs) to limited (important) ones based on data obtained in the Measure phase. Therefore, it can be said that the Analyze phase attempts to identify the root cause(s) of the major contributor(s) to the problem.

Remember that the output of a process is dependent on the inputs and the inprocess. Therefore, mathematically, this can be written as "the output is a function of the inputs and the in-process." Let X ₁, X ₂, . . ., X _n be defined as the inputs and the in-process and let Y be defined as an output; then, Y = f( X ₁, X ₂, X ₃, . . ., X _n).

The responsibility of a Six Sigma team (a Continuous Improvement team) is...