8.6 Measure Tollgate Review

Recall that at the end of each DMAIC phase, you will participate in a review to determine whether the team has made proper progress to move towards the next phase and has successfully completed all activities. The review for the measure phase varies according to the project particulars. There is no rigid sequence of steps that every team must follow and no tools that every team must use. You may use some tools in more than one phase or not at all. You and your team need to use logic and knowledge about the project and context to determine which steps to follow and select appropriate tools. That said, here is a list of likely deliverables:

• Produce a detailed process map

• Operationalize CTQs

• Prepare a data collection plan

• Collect and analyze baseline data

• Estimate process capability

Similar to the previous tollgate, executives will assess whether the benefits are worth continuing the project and whether they justify the time and resources. Besides, the team, process owner, and project champion and executives can also discuss whether it is necessary to change the focus of the project vis-a-vis the organization’s needs and strategies.