Free DMAIC Template (Excel)
What's inside the free DMAIC template
Define holds the project charter: name, problem statement, goal statement, sponsor, team members, start date and target completion date.
Measure is a metric log for up to 30 metrics, each with a baseline, target and current value - the Gap column calculates target minus current automatically, and the summary flags how many metrics are Off track and the average gap.
Analyze is a native fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram built from cells and borders, with the six standard categories (Method, Machine, Material, Manpower, Measurement, Environment) and space for four causes under each, plus a problem statement box in the center.
Improve is an action list for up to 40 fix actions, where the Flag column reads Late the moment a due date passes and the status isn't Done. Control is a monitoring plan for up to 30 control points, with a rollup counting how many are Off track.
One connected workbook instead of five separate files
Most DMAIC template hubs (Smartsheet included) ship each phase's tool - project charter, control plan, SIPOC, Pareto, fishbone - as a separate, disconnected file. This template puts all five DMAIC phases in one workbook, so you're not juggling downloads or copying data between files as a project moves from Define through Control.
It doesn't include a statistical add-in or auto-generated Pareto/control charts with control limits - those require standard deviation and process-capability math that's outside the formula subset this file uses (SUMIF/COUNTIF/SUM/AVERAGE/IF/IFERROR/TODAY only, so it works identically in Excel and Google Sheets). What it gives you instead is a fully linked, formula-driven structure for the DMAIC checklist and status tracking itself.
How the Measure gap and Improve late flag calculate
On Measure, Gap = Target value minus Current value for each metric row - a positive number means you still have distance to close before hitting target.
On Improve, the Flag column checks the Status first: if it's Done, the flag reads On track no matter the date. Otherwise it compares the due date to today - past due and not Done reads Late, anything else reads On track. Both sheets update the instant you change an input cell; nothing needs to be recalculated by hand.
Who this template is for
Quality and process-improvement teams running a DMAIC project who want the charter, metrics, root-cause diagram, action list and control plan tracked in one place instead of stitched together from several downloads.
It's a working file for running the project day to day - for formal statistical process control (control limits, Cp/Cpk) you'll still want dedicated Six Sigma software or an add-in.
How to use it
- On Define, fill in the project charter: name, problem statement, goal, sponsor, team, start and target dates.
- On Measure, log every metric with its baseline, target and current value - Gap and the summary calculate automatically.
- On Analyze, fill in root causes under each fishbone category, then log fix actions on Improve - Flag marks anything late.
- On Control, log how each metric will be monitored going forward; the summary counts how many are Off track.
Download the free Free DMAIC Template (Excel)
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Frequently asked questions
Does this template include Pareto charts or control charts with control limits?
No. It uses SUM, AVERAGE, COUNTIF and IF formulas for rollups, not standard deviation or process-capability statistics - it doesn't auto-generate control charts with UCL/LCL. Add a statistical add-in or Six Sigma software if you need formal control-limit charting.
Is the fishbone diagram automatically generated from data?
No. It's a native Excel/Sheets layout of cells and borders in the standard six-category shape - you type causes directly into the yellow cells rather than plotting them from a data list.
Can I use this in Google Sheets?
Yes. Upload the downloaded file to Google Drive, then open it and choose File > Save as Google Sheets. All five phases and their formulas keep working.
How many metrics, actions and control points does it support?
Up to 30 metrics on Measure, up to 40 actions on Improve, and up to 30 control points on Control. Add rows and extend the formulas if a project needs more.
How does the Improve sheet decide an action is Late?
It checks Status first: Done always reads On track. Otherwise, if the due date is before today, it reads Late; if not, it reads On track.
What's the usage license?
Personal use or use within one business. It's not meant to be resold or redistributed as a template product.