Six Sigma is a data driven methodology that aims to understand and reduce process variation, whilst focusing both on customer satisfaction and the bottom line – cost.

The approach provides a methodology for the application of a range of powerful statistical tools that can be applied to any measurable process. The aim is to identify and understand the effects of critical inputs on process outputs. Only with this understanding can a process be controlled to deliver consistent products.

Technically speaking...
A Six Sigma process is one where the process average is at least ‘six Sigma’ away from the nearest customer specification limit (where one Sigma is the standard deviation of the process variation, a measure of process spread).

Even within realistic shifts in the process average (of up to 1.5 Sigma), a Six Sigma process will produce just 3.4 defects per million opportunities.