Six Sigma

DPMODefects Per Million Opportunities

A normalized defect metric that allows fair comparison of quality across processes of different complexity.

DPMO (Defects Per Million Opportunities) counts defects relative to the number of opportunities for a defect, scaled to one million. By normalizing for complexity, it lets you compare a simple process to a complex one on equal footing.

DPMO converts directly to a sigma level: 6σ corresponds to just 3.4 DPMO, while 3σ is about 66,800 DPMO.

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Related Terms
Sigma Level
A measure of process capability expressed in standard deviations between the mean and the nearest spec limit.
Process Capability
Indices (Cp, Cpk) that compare the spread and centering of a process to its specification limits.
First Pass Yield
The percentage of units that pass through a process correctly the first time, with no rework or repair.
Six Sigma
A data-driven methodology for reducing variation and defects to no more than 3.4 per million opportunities.
Rolled Throughput Yield
The probability a unit passes through every step of a process defect-free — the product of each step's first pass yield.

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