Should you use DMAIC or DMADV?

There are many different strategies that can be used in order to increase productivity and to cut wastes for the organization. One of the ways in which you can do this is by looking for a program that can help you like Six Sigma. DMAIC and DMADV are two methods that are associated with Six Sigma and will be able to help you increase productivity and to cut wastes for the company. The problem that you might run into is figuring out which method to use and how you can focus on creating a stronger company. Let's look at DMAIC and DMADV in depth a little more so you can get an idea as to how they will impact your organization.

DMAIC
With DMAIC you have the following acronym:
- Define
- Measure
- Analyze
- Improve
- Control
What you have with this method is to understand what the problems are for your organization. A large majority of your time will be focused on figuring out what the problem is so you can go about creating a program that helps you to solve it. The customer is the key with DMAIC as you are dealing with understanding what their wants and needs are and to figure out how to provide them with better products and services. With the measure phase you will focus on collecting data and measuring it and determining what you want the outcome to be for the company. Once you have the data you must take the time to analyze it and to really understand it. You have to look at really understanding what the problem is as it could be multiple things. Then you will move onto the improve phase when you are working to establish quality and to explore multiple solutions for the company and finding a way to have them become successful.Lastly you have the control phase where you have steps set up to help you correct new problems and to monitor the system and keep it from getting out of control.

DMADV
This is similar to the other phase but you have two words that change. Here is the acronym for DMADV:
- Define
- Measure
- Analyze
- Design
- Verify

The first three steps you have are exactly the same with DMAIC but your last two steps will vary and you will see design and verify be quite different. With design you have to really look at the analyze process again and you must make sure you are choosing the right type of program for the company. Your goal is to make sure you are choosing a correct design but that you have found a way to ensure that you have found a way to become efficient. Finally your verify phase is one where you will carry out the design and everything that you have worked to effectively create for the company. You want to make sure that there are not defects with products but within the system of the company as well. Your goal is to have a positive outcome for the company and to leave the customers coming out with happy results.

So how can you choose between the two? It's hard to tell because both of them are great strategies and are implemented differently. One works more on customer needs where the other works on improving the existing process you have for the company. Eliminating wastes and reducing defects will all lead to happier customers, which is vital for your sales because it does give you customer loyalty which is one of the main keys to having stronger sales.