The label machine has had a problem in the past which leads to an increase of time for book orders. This has resulted in delayed shipping. The problem has never been reported to upper management for fixing. Since the problem has never been reported, the CEO will yell at the workers to move faster and produce more labels in an hour. Caroline Garitano decided to collect some data by taking samples of processed books about business, law, art, engineering, and literature for year $2018.$ The obtained results follow: Business Law Art Engineering Literature January $126901$ February $813915$ March $1017928$ April $619553$ May $135667$ June $1487318$ July $152012420$ August $82114123$ September $91317134$ October $1221126$ November $1151057$ December $1181077$ Now Caroline Garitano and Robert Lawrence are interested in performing a Six Sigma strategy, using the DMAIC process to improve their business. what is

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The DMAIC process in Six Sigma is a structured, data$-$driven approach to improving processes and resolving issues. Here$$s how Caroline and Robert might apply each step of DMAIC to address the issue with the label machine and delayed shipping:

Define: Identify the problem, set goals, and determine the project scope. Here, the problem is the label machine$$s inefficiency, which leads to delays in processing book orders and affects shipping times. The goal might be to reduce delays and improve the labeling process to avoid overtime costs and stress on employees.

Measure: Collect data on the current process. Caroline$$s collected data on processed books in various categories $($business$,$ law, art, engineering, and literature$)$ for each month in $2018$ can help analyze the volume of labels required and the monthly workload. This data will help them establish a baseline to measure improvement efforts.

Analyze: Identify the root cause of the problem. This step involves analyzing the data to find patterns and inconsistencies that may point to when or why the label machine fails. The data could be cross$-$referenced with machine maintenance records or times when delays were observed to isolate the cause of the machine$$s inefficiencies.

Improve: Develop and implement solutions to address the root causes identified. Possible solutions might include upgrading or repairing the label machine, training employees to manage machine problems quickly, or reorganizing the workload to reduce bottlenecks in the labeling process.

Control: Monitor the implemented improvements and ensure they are sustainable. Establishing checks and regular reporting to ensure the label machine operates efficiently can help maintain timely book order processing and shipping. Routine maintenance schedules and employee feedback can also be part of this control step to prevent future delays.

By applying the DMAIC framework, Caroline and Robert can systematically address the machine's inefficiencies, streamline the labeling process, and ultimately reduce shipping delays.

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