Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional (CMRP) Practice Exam

What does achieving Six Sigma signify in terms of defects?

1. 10 defects per million opportunities

2. 3.4 defects per million opportunities

3. 300 defects per million opportunities

4. 0.34 defects per million opportunities

The correct answer is: 3.4 defects per million opportunities

Achieving Six Sigma signifies a level of process performance that results in only 3.4 defects per million opportunities. This standard is a benchmark of quality that demonstrates a company’s commitment to reducing variability and improving accuracy in its operations. Six Sigma aims for near perfection in business processes by targeting a defect rate that translates to 3.4 defects in a million opportunities, which reflects an overall defect rate of 0.00034%. This low level of defects means that processes are running extremely smoothly and efficiently, indicating a robust quality management strategy. The significance of this performance level lies in its ability to minimize waste and increase customer satisfaction by delivering products or services that meet high-quality standards consistently. It also emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision making and process improvement methodologies, contributing to higher operational effectiveness. In contrast, options reflecting higher defect rates demonstrate lower levels of quality performance. For example, a figure of 10 defects per million opportunities or 300 defects per million opportunities indicates a greater degree of variability and potential issues within processes. Such rates do not align with the Six Sigma philosophy, which strives for excellence in quality management.