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Six Sigma

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Definition

A comprehensive and flexible system for achieving, sustaining and maximizing business success. Six Sigma is uniquely driven by close understanding of customer needs, disciplined use of facts, data, and statistical analysis, and diligent attention to managing, improving, and reinventing business processes. *

The Six Sigma methodology is based on the concept that process variation can be reduced using statistical tools so that a process centered at the target has six Standard Deviations (sigma) between the process mean (target) and the nearest specification limit, at which point (adjusting for a shift over time of 1.5 sigma) the process will produce only 3.4 Defects per million opportunities.

*From the book 'The Six Sigma Way' by Pande, Neuman, and Cavanagh.

External Links

What is Six Sigma? from iSixSigma: - http://www.isixsigma.com/sixsigma/six_sigma.asp From Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute: - http://www.sei.cmu.edu/str/descriptions/sigma6_body.html MoreSteam's Toolbox - Six Sigma Conversion Table - http://www.moresteam.com/toolbox/six-sigma-conversion-table.cfm