PROBLEM

SOLVING
PROCESS
 TYPES OF PROBLEM SOLVING
PROCESSES
DMAIC
8D
PDCA
Kaizen
 DMAIC

DMAIC (an acronym for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) (pronounced d-MAY-
ick) refers to a data-driven improvement cycle used for improving, optimizing and stabilizing
business processes and designs.
 DMAIC
D Define
Define the problem, improvement activity, opportunity for improvement, the project goals, and
customer (internal and external) requirements.
What is the problem?
M Measure
Measure process performance.
How are we doing?
A Analyze
Analyze the process to determine root causes of variation, poor performance (defects).
What is wrong?
 DMAIC

I Improve
Improve process performance by addressing and eliminating the root causes.
What needs to be done?
C Control
Control the improved process and future process performance.
How do we guarantee performance?
 8D
The Eight Disciplines of Problem Solving (8D) is a problem solving methodology designed to find
the root cause of a problem, devise a short-term fix and implement a long-term solution to
prevent recurring problems.
 8D
D0: PlanPlan for solving the problem and determine the prerequisites.
D1: Use a teamEstablish a team of people with product/process knowledge.
D2: Define and describe the problemSpecify the problem by identifying in quantifiable
terms the who, what, where, when, why, how, and how many (5W2H) for the problem.
D3: Develop containment plan; implement and verify actionsDefine and implement
containment actions to isolate the problem from any customer.
D4: Determine, identify, and verify root causes and escape pointsIdentify all
applicable causes that could explain why the problem occurred. Also identify why the problem
was not noticed at the time it occurred. All causes shall be verified or proved, not determined
by fuzzy brainstorming. One can use 5 Whys and cause and effect diagrams to map causes
against the effect or problem identified.
 8D

D5: Choose and verify permanent corrections (PCs) for problem/nonconformity

Through preproduction programs, quantitatively confirm that the selected correction will
resolve the problem for the customer.
D6: Implement and validate corrective actionsDefine and implement the best
corrective actions.
D7:Take preventive measuresModify the management systems, operation systems,
practices, and procedures to prevent recurrence of this and all similar problems.
D8: Congratulate your teamRecognize the collective efforts of the team. The team
needs to be formally thanked by the organization.
 PDCA
PDCA (plan-do-check-act, sometimes seen as plan-do-check-adjust) is a repetitive four-stage
model for continuous improvement (CI) in business process management.
 PDCA
P Plan
Recognize an opportunity and plan a change.
D Do
Test the change.
Carry out a small-scale study.
C Check
Review the test, analyze the results and identify what youve learned.
A Act
Take action based on what you learned in the study step: If the change did not work, go through the
cycle again with a different plan. If you were successful, incorporate what you learned from the test
into wider changes. Use what you learned to plan new improvements, beginning the cycle again.
 KAIZEN
Kaizen (Continuous Improvement) is a strategy where employees at all levels of a company
work together proactively to achieve regular, incremental improvements to the manufacturing
process. In a sense, it combines the collective talents within a company to create a powerful
engine for improvement.
 KAIZEN
Plan and Create Charter
Train and Process Walk
Develop an optimal solution
Root Cause Analysis and Future State Plan
Improve Process
Sustain Process, Report Out and follow up
Plan for the future