6 Sigma Timeline

The general timeline is 3-6 months overall. Here's how I would break it down (in general) for a 6 month project:

Define: 1/2 month

Measure: 1 to 1.5 month

Analyze: 1 to 1.5 months

Improve: 2 months

Control: 1 month

If you don't have any data from the process, Measure takes longer. Sometimes Analyze can be done in a week if you have the right data. If not, you have to iterate back to Measure to gather the right data for segmentation or stratification purposes. Control can last longer if you need to run a pilot.