Driving Breakthroughs: A Deep Dive into the Improve Phase of DMAIC

Once you’ve completed the Measure and Analyze phases of your DMAIC journey, it’s time to put all your insights into action. Welcome to the Improve phase—the point where you move from analysis to innovation, from root cause to solution. This is where the team creatively solves problems, designs better processes, and tests improvements that will drive real change.

📌 What is the Improve Phase?

The Improve phase focuses on developing, testing, and implementing solutions that address the root causes identified in the Analyze phase. It’s about going from “what’s wrong” to “how can we fix it effectively?”

This phase is both creative and structured—balancing innovation with data-driven testing to ensure solutions actually work and are sustainable.

🎯 Objectives of the Improve Phase

1. Generate potential solutions to eliminate or reduce root causes.

2. Evaluate and select the best solutions based on impact and feasibility.

3. Pilot and test the selected solutions.

4. Validate improvement with data.

5. Refine and implement solutions at full scale.

🧠 Step-by-Step Walkthrough of the Improve Phase

1. Brainstorm Potential Solutions

Use tools like:

• Brainstorming (individual or group)

• Benchmarking best practices

• Creative thinking tools like SCAMPER or TRIZ

• Idea generation from frontline staff

Tip: Involve cross-functional teams for broader perspectives. No idea is too wild at this stage!

2. Prioritize and Select the Best Solutions

Use tools like:

• Impact/Effort Matrix – to assess ease of implementation vs. expected benefits

• Cost-Benefit Analysis – to compare financial impact

• FMEA (Failure Modes and Effects Analysis) – to assess risks associated with each potential solution

  Example: In a hospital, if delays in discharge are traced to late physician rounding, you may brainstorm:

  • Digital alerts for rounding schedules

  • Standardized discharge checklists

  • Nurse-physician huddles

  Evaluate them based on how quickly they can be implemented and the impact on turnaround time.

3. Pilot the Solution

Before full-scale implementation, test your chosen solution on a small scale:

• Define the scope of the pilot

• Set success criteria

• Monitor metrics closely

Use the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle to structure your test.

Example: If you're introducing a Kanban system to reduce lab supply stockouts, pilot it in one unit before hospital-wide rollout.

4. Measure the Impact of the Pilot

Use the same metrics you established in the Measure phase to:

• Confirm improvement

• Validate root cause elimination

• Compare pre- and post-implementation data

Key tools:

• Control charts

• Box plots or histograms

• Before-and-after process maps

Goal: Ensure the solution created measurable and statistically significant improvement.

5. Implement Full-Scale Rollout

If the pilot is successful:

• Roll out the solution organization-wide

• Train relevant staff

• Update SOPs, job aids, checklists

• Plan change management and communication

If pilot fails, revisit solution design or analyze overlooked causes.

🛠️ Tools Commonly Used in Improve Phase

• Brainstorming & Affinity Diagrams

• Impact-Effort Matrix

• FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis)

• Design of Experiments (DOE)

• Pilot Testing Plans

• Control Charts

• Process Simulation (if available)

• 5S, Visual Management, Kaizen (Lean tools)

✨ Real-World Example: Lean Six Sigma in Action

Problem: Long wait times in a radiology department

Analyze Phase Finding: Technicians were spending 30% of their time locating patients or prepping rooms

Improve Phase Solutions:

• Introduced color-coded room readiness signals

• Redesigned patient prep checklist

• Assigned a float staff to manage patient flow

Result: 25% reduction in cycle time per scan, improved patient satisfaction, no extra staff needed.

📌 Tips for Success

• Don’t skip the pilot—what works on paper might not work in practice.

• Focus on low-cost, high-impact solutions when possible.

• Document what worked and why—this will help in Control phase.

• Keep teams involved and motivated; celebrate small wins during the pilot.

📘 Key Deliverables in the Improve Phase

• List of solution ideas with prioritization

• Risk assessment (FMEA)

• Pilot plan and results

• Updated process map (with improvements)

• Implementation plan

🧩 Transitioning to the Control Phase

Once the improvements are implemented and validated, the project transitions to the Control phase, where the goal is to sustain and monitor the gains over time.

Final Thoughts

The Improve phase is where data meets action. It’s about translating analysis into meaningful, testable, and impactful solutions that address real problems. When done right, this phase can unlock huge gains in efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction.

Remember: You don’t need perfect solutions—just the right ones that are tested and validated.