What does the 'Analyze' phase of DMAIC involve?

The 'Analyze' phase of DMAIC is focused on studying the process to identify issues and understand the root causes of the problems that have been defined in earlier phases. During this stage, data collected from previous phases is examined to pinpoint where variations or defects occur and to determine why these issues are happening. This may involve a range of statistical tools and techniques to analyze the data effectively, such as cause-and-effect diagrams, and hypothesis testing, among others.

By focusing on identifying the root causes, this phase sets the groundwork for the next steps in the DMAIC process, which is to improve the process based on these findings. It's crucial for ensuring that any changes made later are targeted and effective in addressing the specific problems identified. Understanding the underlying issues is vital for successful problem-solving and ongoing process improvement.