Six Sigma's DMAIC vs. Design for Six Sigma's IDOV / DMADV

Six sigma's success is mainly contributed to its DMAIC model. The DMAIC model focuses on defining an issue with an existing process or product, measuring the deviation from the expected behavior, analyzing the data for insights to root causes, improve the current process or product through minimization of deviations or improvements and finally controlling the system to sustain the gains achieved.

IDOV and DMADV which are two design-based models slightly differ from DMAIC as follows.

Objective and Approach: DMAIC views the current process or product as correct and economical, but needs to minimize some gap leading to inefficiencies. IDOV / DMADV view the current process or product as in need of redesign or design change to achieve customer satisfaction.

Process Capability: DMAIC views current process as capable of satisfying customer needs, whereas IDOV / DMADV views current processes as a candidate for improved yield regardless of volume and complexity.

Design: DMAIC views the current design as satisfactory for the client's needs, whereas IDOV / DMADV views the need to consider various drivers for design, such as cost, manufacturing, producibility, maintainability, robustness, usability, efficiency, security, agility, compliance and testability.

Flexibility: DMAIC assumes that the current design and processes are flexible to meet customer demands and needs, whereas IDOV / DMADV highly considers potential customer demands and forecasts newly developed needs

Validation: IDOV and DMADV both consider validation and verification of the outcomes of a design or process in meeting objectives.

To read more:
[1] Chrisitian Madu, "The House of Quality in a Minute", Chi Publishers, 2006.
[2] Rod Munro, "The Certified Six Sigma Green Belt Handbook", Quality Press, 2008.