DMAIC methodology in healthcare service processes: A structured review of efficiency and process variation outcomes

Healthcare organizations operate under increasing pressure to provide accessible, safe and efficient services amid rising demands and limited resources. This thesis examines how the DMAIC methodology has been applied in healthcare service processes, with a focus on reported effects on process efficiency and variation. The study is based on a structured literature review of peer-reviewed journal articles and synthesizes evidence from empirical case studies within different healthcare settings. The findings show that DMAIC is most frequently reported to improve time-based efficiency outcomes, such as throughput and length of stay. In contrast, explicit measurement and reporting of process variation are less consistent and often indirect. The review also identifies common factors that influence implementation, including data availability, staff involvement and process complexity. The results highlight both the potential and current limitations of DMAIC when applied to healthcare service processes.