Six Sigma Tutorial -> Six Sigma Statistics

Six Sigma Statistics

• Six Sigma uses a variety of statistics to determine the best practices for any given process.
• Statisticians and Six Sigma consultants study the existing processes and determine the methods that produce the best overall results.
• Combinations of these methods will be tested and upon determining that a given combination can improve the process, it will be implemented.
• Six Sigma stands for "Six Standard deviations from the arithmetic mean".
• Six Sigma statistically ensures that 99.9997% of all products produced in a process are of acceptable quality.
• Six Sigma allows only 3.4 defects per million opportunities.
• If a given process fails to meet this criteria, it is re-analyzed, altered and tested to find out if there are any improvements.
• If no improvement is found, the process is re-analyzed, altered and tested again.
• This cycle is repeated until you see an improvement.

Once an improvement is found,  its documented and the knowledge is spread across other units in the company so they can implement this new process and reduce their defects per million opportunities.