Final answer:
The Analyze phase of the Lean Six Sigma process is where the root cause of process variability is identified, ensuring that the real issues are addressed rather than just the symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The step in the Lean Six Sigma improvement process where efforts are made to identify the root cause of process variability is the Analyze phase. During this phase, various analytical tools and techniques, such as cause-and-effect diagrams, Pareto charts, and regression analysis, are employed to drill down into the data and pinpoint the underlying issues causing variation in the process. Identifying the root cause is crucial because without addressing the real issue, any improvements or changes made will likely only deal with the symptoms rather than solving the problem at its core.