The ______ phase of DMAIC focuses on why defects, errors, or excessive variation occur.

The Analyze phase of DMAIC is critical for understanding the underlying causes of defects, errors, or excessive variation in a process. This phase involves a thorough investigation of the data collected during the Measure phase to pinpoint the root causes of problems.

During the Analyze phase, various tools and techniques such as cause-and-effect diagrams, Pareto charts, and statistical analysis are employed. These help the team to differentiate between symptoms and actual causes, leading to insights about what specific factors are contributing to the issues at hand. By systematically analyzing the data, teams can identify patterns and determine which issues, if addressed, will have the greatest impact on improving the process quality.

This analytical focus is essential because it sets the groundwork for the subsequent Improve phase, where solutions can be developed and implemented based on the insights gained. Understanding the root causes allows teams to design better processes and eliminate sources of defects, contributing to overall quality improvements.