In which stage of the Six Sigma Methodology are the customer's requirements identified?

The correct answer is the Define stage of the Six Sigma methodology. This stage is crucial because it focuses on understanding and articulating the customer’s needs and expectations, which are essential for guiding the project toward successful outcomes. During the Define phase, the project team works to clarify the problem statement, identify stakeholders, and set specific project goals based on customer requirements.

By gathering information about what the customer values, teams can ensure that their efforts are aligned with delivering products or services that meet those needs. This can involve tools such as Voice of the Customer (VOC) techniques, which help capture the desires and requirements of the customer.

The other stages—Improve, Analyze, and Control—do not primarily focus on identifying customer requirements. While they may take customer input into account, their main objectives are different: Improve aims at developing solutions based on analysis, Analyze focuses on understanding data and root causes, and Control is about maintaining gains and ensuring that improvements are sustained. Thus, defining customer requirements at the beginning sets the foundation for the success of the entire Six Sigma project.