Table of Contents
What Quality Yield Corresponds to a Six Sigma Process?
Understand the connection between a Six Sigma process and its typical yield for your certification exam. Learn how the goal of 3.4 Defects Per Million Opportunities (DPMO) translates to an impressive process yield of 99.99966%, often rounded to 99.9997%.
Question
What is the typical yield of a Six Sigma process?
A. 99.9997%
B. 85%
C. 95%
D. 70%
Answer
A. 99.9997%
Explanation
Six Sigma equates to only 3.4 defects per million opportunities. A process that has achieved the Six Sigma level of quality operates at a yield that is effectively 99.99966% perfect, which is commonly rounded to 99.9997% for simplicity.
From DPMO to Process Yield
The performance of a Six Sigma process is most famously defined by its goal of producing no more than 3.4 Defects Per Million Opportunities (DPMO). This DPMO metric can be directly translated into a process yield, which represents the percentage of output that is free of defects.
This number is frequently rounded to 99.9997% in literature and training materials. This exceptionally high yield signifies a process that is highly capable, consistent, and predictable, producing near-perfect output.
Analysis of Incorrect Options
The other options represent significantly lower levels of quality and higher defect rates, which do not correspond to a Six Sigma level of performance.
B. 85%: A yield of 85% equates to a defect rate of 15%, or 150,000 DPMO. This is a very low-quality level, far from the Six Sigma standard.
C. 95%: A 95% yield corresponds to a 5% defect rate, or 50,000 DPMO. While better, this is still thousands of times worse than the Six Sigma goal.
D. 70%: A yield of 70% means a 30% defect rate, or 300,000 DPMO, indicating a process that is highly unstable and producing a large volume of errors.
Lean Six Sigma: Define, Analyze & Improve certification exam assessment practice question and answer (Q&A) dump including multiple choice questions (MCQ) and objective type questions, with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the Lean Six Sigma: Define, Analyze & Improve exam and earn Lean Six Sigma: Define, Analyze & Improve certificate.