What is the primary objective of Six Sigma?

• A. Reduce defects to 3.4 per million opportunities
• B. Increase production speed
• C. Reduce labor costs
• D. Improve supplier relations

Answer: (A)

Six Sigma centers on reducing variation in processes until performance is extremely close to perfect. The defining target is 3.4 defects per million opportunities, meaning a process operating at Six Sigma quality would yield about 3.4 defects in a million chances. This level accounts for the common expectation that processes drift a little over time (often modeled as a 1.5 standard deviation shift), so the six-sigma standard sets a stringent, durable quality benchmark. While faster production, lower labor costs, or better supplier relations can come from improvements, they are not the defining aim. The essential idea is achieving a defect rate of only ~3.4 per million opportunities.