During which phase do you generate and test solutions?

The Improve phase is where the focus shifts to developing and testing potential solutions to problems identified in earlier phases of the project, particularly after gathering and analyzing data. This phase is critical because it is not merely about brainstorming solutions but about validating their effectiveness through experimentation and data analysis.

In this phase, teams look for ways to enhance processes by implementing changes based on the insights gained from the Measure and Analyze phases. They prioritize solutions, conduct trials, and carefully examine the outcomes to ensure that proposed changes lead to the desired improvements in performance or quality.

By the time a project reaches the Improve phase, enough information has been gathered to identify root causes and potential areas for enhancement, making it the ideal stage for experimenting with solutions and determining their viability before full-scale implementation.