From Six Sigma at Motorola, developed by Bill Smith (1986) and Mikel J. Harry (The Nature of Six Sigma Quality, 1988).
Runs a process improvement through five stages (define, measure, analyze, improve, control), ending with monitoring that keeps the gain from slipping back.
When to reach for it
Defects, delays, or rework keep recurring in a process, and the fix needs a disciplined project that proves itself and sticks.
How it runs
- Define the problem, the customer's requirements, and the scope.
- Measure how the process performs today.
- Analyze the data for root causes.
- Improve by designing and piloting changes.
- Control with monitoring and documented procedures.
Where it sits in SOLVE eX
- 4.1 Root Causes and the Case for Going Back
- 3.1 Finding the Current Facts
- 6.4 Conducting Follow-Up and Taking Feedback
Go to the source
- Six Sigma quality program, Motorola, 1986
- The Nature of Six Sigma Quality, Motorola University Press, 1988