Six Sigma Methodologies: DMAIC vs. DMADV

Last Updated October 14, 2020

Six Sigma is an innovative and adaptive set of methodologies geared toward improving the efficiency and effectiveness of corporate processes. Originally introduced by the Motorola Corporation in 1986, it has evolved to become present within the most successful business improvement strategies and is attributed with reducing the number of defects in manufactured goods to less than 3.4 per 1 million units.

Six Sigma uses two different sets of methodologies, DMAIC and DMADV, as lenses to examine and address complementary aspects of business processes. The DMAIC and the DMADV distinctions are aimed at viewing different sectors of a business simultaneously but addressing them separately. Despite unique distinctions, the methodologies overlap during the examination process and share the same end goal – improvement of business processes.

Each methodology has its own set of guidelines and goals targeted at improving business processes through the use of data collection and statistical tools. While the methodologies are designed to achieve the same thing, there are noteworthy differences between the two that should be considered by professionals in leadership roles or in business environments with a wide range of organizational settings.

DMAIC

The set of Six Sigma methodologies that is most applicable to the manufacturing or production side of a product or service, DMAIC includes these project stages:

• Define – address the identification of specific processes to be examined
• Measure – record data and use metrics to track effectiveness and evaluate efficiencies
• Analyze – utilize critical thinking skills to review data and clarify goals
• Improve – create changes in business processes geared toward improvement and better alignment with corporate goals
• Control – build a system of checks and adjustments for ongoing improvement in production processes

DMADV

The complementary set of Six Sigma processes that is most applicable to examining and improving the customer relations side of a company, DMADV includes these project stages:

• Define – address customer needs in relation to a product or service
• Measure – involve the use of electronic data collection to measure customer needs, response to product, or review of services
• Analyze – utilize metrics to evaluate areas where product or service can be better aligned to customer goals and needs
• Design – overlap the improvement of business processes that streamline corporate goals to best meet client and customer needs
• Verify – build a system of tests and models to check that customer specifications are being met through on-going improvements

For professionals interested in finding out more about how these powerful methodologies play out in a variety of business settings or how they could make an impact for your business, consider pursuing additional education in the field of Six Sigma. While both sets of Six Sigma methodologies can work hand-in-hand to achieve a specific set of organizational and fiscal goals, professionals interested in one set of methodologies over the other can augment skills through a reputable online certificate program.

As Six Sigma continues to evolve and address 21^st century business issues and goals, professionals that demonstrate a mastery of these practices could find many applicable opportunities in a variety of industry settings. Through online courses taught by industry leaders, professionals and businesses can achieve practical business solutions and certification as a Green Belt, Black Belt and Master Black Belt in Six Sigma.