Before you build a solution, make sure you know the cause. This checklist helps you prepare the Analyze tollgateA formal review point at the end of a DMAIC phase where the team pauses, presents its data and gets sign-off before moving on to the next phase. Click term for full definition review. Watch the short video, then work with the toolkit PDF: it explains the method, shows a worked example and gives you a blank template to fill in.
Tool video
The short tool video will appear here.
Analyze Tollgate Checklist in short
- Go through the checklist. Tick a point only if you have a concrete result.
- Close the gaps. Go back to the matching step for every open point.
- Prepare a short summary. Fishbone, Quick WinA simple, low-cost improvement identified during Walk the Walls that can be implemented immediately, without complex analysis or significant investment. Click term for full definition, Vital FewThe small handful of causes (per the Pareto Principle) responsible for most of a problem, as opposed to the "Trivial Many." Click term for full definition, test results with p-values, updated goal and team.
- Hold the review. Walk your sponsor or coach through the evidence.
- Get the go. Agree that the root causeThe fundamental, underlying reason a problem occurs, as distinct from its symptoms. If you remove the root cause, the problem does not come back. Click term for full definition is proven and the plan is realistic.
Key points
- A tollgate is a formal go or no-go.
- Five checks cover the Analyze work.
- Close gaps before you move on.
- A proven root cause opens Improve.