Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) developed following the success of Six Sigma and other process improvement methodologies. If a similar multi-phase improvement technique could be applied to design, costs and time could be saved by eliminating waste and unnecessary prototyping. Successful designs could move to production quicker, reducing costs and increasing an organization’s competitive edge. DFSS proved to be a successful tool for improving design in a variety of settings. The five phases of DFSS are Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, and Verify (DMADV).
The ultimate mission of DFSS is to address general Six Sigma goals of meeting customer needs while minimizing variation and to accomplish this as early in the development cycle as possible.