In DMAIC, what does the M step involve?

• A. Define customers, project boundaries, and processes
• B. Measure performance
• C. Analyze data to identify causes of variation, gaps in performance, and prioritize actions
• D. Control the process

Answer: (B)

Measuring the current process performance and establishing a reliable baseline is the focus of this step. It involves selecting the right metrics that reflect what matters to customers, creating a data collection plan, and gathering data about how the process actually behaves. A crucial part is confirming the measurement system itself is trustworthy—checking the data collection method for accuracy and consistency (for example, evaluating measurement reproducibility and repeatability). With high-quality data, you quantify how the process performs now, understand the level of variation, and set a credible baseline for comparison in the Analyze step and for tracking improvements later. This distinguishes it from the Define step (which sets scope and CTQs), the Analyze step (which digs into causes of variation), and the Control step (which sustains gains).