What is a major focus during the Analyze phase of DMAIC?

During the Analyze phase of DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control), a major focus is on identifying root causes of defects. This phase is crucial because it involves digging deeper into the data collected during the Measure phase to find out why defects occur and what factors contribute to the problems in the process. By pinpointing these root causes, teams can gain insights that will guide them in developing effective solutions during the Improve phase.

Identifying root causes is essential because it allows practitioners to target their improvement efforts where they will have the most significant impact, rather than just addressing symptoms of the problems. Techniques such as cause-and-effect diagrams, Pareto charts, and the 5 Whys are commonly employed in this phase to systematically uncover the underlying issues affecting process performance.

The other choices represent important aspects of the overall DMAIC process but are not the primary focus during the Analyze phase. Setting project targets typically happens in the Define phase, implementing process controls is part of the Control phase, and training project team members often occurs throughout the project but may not specifically align with the focus of the Analyze phase.