Well, although it seems magical, there is certainly no magic involved. It’s just that Six Sigma happens to have some advanced weaponry in its arsenal - technically referred to as Six Sigma methodologies.

Among many, the two methodologies that are most commonly used include the DMAIC and the DMADV methodologies. For better understanding, we’ll compare these two methodologies.

The DMAIC Six Sigma Methodology

Starting with DMAIC Six Sigma methodology, the first thing you need to know is that it stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control. These terms are nothing but the different stages of the DMAIC process - in that particular order.

Before you delve deeper into the various stages, you also need to know that the DMAIC process deals exclusively with business processes that are already there. It does not cater to business processes that are in the design and development phase.  

Moving along to the various stages of the DMAIC process, you need to know that the first stage (i.e., the Define stage) deals with the identification of problems that might be affecting the efficiency of the targeted business process. In the second phase, the Measure stage, the overall affect of each of the identified problems is measured; based on which they are classified into different categories, ranging from the most severe of problems to the least severe.

After this comes the Analyze stage, where the most severe of identified problems are analyzed in detail so as to devise effective solutions that can take care of those problems. The solutions so devised are implemented in the Improve stage and their effects are studied in the last stage - the Control stage.

If the results are satisfactory, the process ends there; but if not, it is referred back to the start of the DMAIC process (i.e., the Define stage).

The DMADV Six Sigma Methodology

The DMADV Six Sigma methodology stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Design and Verify. The first thing you need to know about this methodology is that it deals exclusively with the design and development of completely new products or services.

The first three stages are basically the same as DMAIC, with the only difference that here process related problems get replaced by customer needs, requirements and expectations. So, after customer needs and requirements have been properly ascertained during the first three stages, the same are integrated into the basic design of the targeted product or service in the fourth stage, the Design stage.

After this comes the Verify stage, in which actual results are compared to set standards. Here also the process ends if results are satisfactory, but if not, it is referred back either to the DMADV process or to the DMAIC process, depending on the situation.

By now, you should have developed a basic understanding of the two most commonly used Six Sigma methodologies. However, there’s plenty more to these two methodologies; and as such, you may have to learn a lot more, especially if you are planning to make a career in Six Sigma quality management.