ASCP Diplomate in Laboratory Management (DLM) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The control phase in Six Sigma is essential for maintaining the improvements achieved during the preceding phases of the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) methodology. Its primary focus is on ensuring that the changes made to the process continue to yield the desired results over time. This involves implementing monitoring systems that keep track of process performance and variability, which help to sustain the levels of quality and efficiency achieved.

In this phase, organizations often develop control plans that outline how the new processes will be maintained, including identifying any potential risks to the improvements and establishing corrective actions should variations occur. By doing so, the control phase helps to institutionalize these enhancements within the organization, making sure that the gains are not just temporary but are integrated into the operational procedures.

Other choices represent important steps in the Six Sigma process but do not capture the essence of the control phase. For instance, defining project goals and scope is foundational work done at the beginning, while reviewing and implementing improvements pertain more to the improvements achieved rather than their maintenance. Collecting and analyzing data is part of the measurement and analysis stages where performance metrics are established and examined, but control specifically emphasizes sustaining the results once improvements are made.