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Lean Six Sigma: How Does Capturing Customer Requirements Drive a Six Sigma Project?

Why Is the Voice of the Customer Critical in the Six Sigma Define Phase?

Prepare for your Lean Six Sigma certification by learning the role of the Voice of the Customer (VOC) in the Define phase. Discover how capturing customer requirements and expectations is essential for creating a strong Project Charter and ensuring the project delivers value.​

Question

What role does the Voice of the Customer (VOC) play in Define?

A. It sets control limits for process outputs
B. It develops financial reports for the project
C. It captures customer requirements and expectations
D. It validates solutions already implemented

Answer

C. It captures customer requirements and expectations

Explanation

VOC ensures alignment with customer needs. The Voice of the Customer (VOC) is a foundational element of the Define phase, ensuring the project is directly linked to customer needs.​

Aligning the Project with Customer Needs

The primary function of collecting the Voice of the Customer (VOC) during the Define phase is to understand what is truly important to the customer. VOC is the systematic process of gathering inputs on customer expectations, preferences, and aversions. By capturing these requirements early, the project team can ensure that the problem statement, goals, and scope documented in the Project Charter are directly aligned with delivering value to the customer. This prevents the organization from investing resources in projects that solve the wrong problem or improve aspects of a process that customers do not care about. The insights gained from VOC are translated into specific, measurable Critical to Quality (CTQ) characteristics that the project will aim to improve.​

Analysis of Incorrect Options

A. It sets control limits for process outputs: Setting control limits is a key activity of the Control phase. Control limits are calculated from process data to monitor performance and ensure the improvements are sustained; they are not derived directly from customer requirements.​

B. It develops financial reports for the project: Financial justification, such as the business case and projected benefits, is a component of the Project Charter. However, this is an internal financial assessment, whereas VOC is focused externally on capturing customer needs and expectations.​

D. It validates solutions already implemented: Solution validation occurs in the later stages of DMAIC, specifically the Improve and Control phases. VOC is a proactive step taken at the very beginning of the project to define the problem, not a reactive step to check a solution at the end.​

Lean Six Sigma: Define, Analyze & Improve certification exam assessment practice question and answer (Q&A) dump including multiple choice questions (MCQ) and objective type questions, with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the Lean Six Sigma: Define, Analyze & Improve exam and earn Lean Six Sigma: Define, Analyze & Improve certificate.