7.8 Conclusion

The Define phase’s objective is to establish the purpose, goals, and scope of the improvement project. This includes collecting information about the customers, stakeholders, and processes involved in the initiative. You also define the critical needs, requirements, and deliverables of the customer, and how to measure them. The VOC and the SIPOC are both tools available to achieve these objectives.

With all of this done, at the end of the Define phase, you and your team will have created a crucial deliverable of this phase: the charter.

Remember, the project charter is a living document. You and your team will continue to update and refine your project charter and your understanding of the problem and process as you work on the subsequent DMAIC phases. Some of its components will become increasingly more precise as you uncover more information and build knowledge about the process.

Just as a sense of purpose keeps you at the task and focused in your daily life, the DMAIC Define phase sets the parameters to keep the team focused throughout the project. Insightfully and properly completing this stage will help you and your team ascertain success in the following phases and achieve the results that will help your organization succeed.