Six Sigma is basically a business process that allows companies to improve their profit margins. Six Sigma stands for Six Standard Deviations. Six Sigma methodology provides the techniques and tools to improve the capability and reduce the defects in any process. (Sigma is the Greek letter used to represent standard deviation in statistics) from mean.
The origins of this process lie in Motorola, in its manufacturing division, where millions of parts are made using the same process repeatedly. Eventually Six Sigma evolved and can now be applied to other non manufacturing processes as well. But today it can be applied to many fields such as Services, Medical and Insurance Procedures, Call Centers and even in the Information Technology Sector. Six Sigma at many organizations simply means a measure of quality that strives for near perfection. Six Sigma is a disciplined, data-driven approach and methodology for eliminating defects and mistakes which may creep in every day businesses.

Six Sigma is a structured and disciplined, data-driven process for improving business. It focuses on how we can improve our competitiveness in the market by increasing customer satisfaction, enhancing employee involvement, instilling positive change into our culture and ultimately creating bottom and top line growth. At the highest level, Six Sigma is all about satisfying customer needs profitably. It is a highly disciplined methodology that helps develop and effectively deliver near-perfect products and services.

Six Sigma has proved itself by showing results world wide and by generating substantial business returns. Six Sigma has become vital for all company and organizations world wide. Those who are well trained in Six Sigma, can be sure to reach good decision making and leadership positions in the corporate Ladder.

The Key Elements of Six Sigma
Customer requirements, design quality, metrics and measures, employee involvement and continuous improvement are main elements of Six Sigma Process Improvement.

The fundamental objective of the Six Sigma methodology is the implementation of a measurement-based strategy that focuses on process improvement and variation reduction through the application of Six Sigma improvement projects. There are two main Six Sigma sub-methodologies that are employed namely the DMAIC and DMADV. The Six Sigma DMAIC process stands for define, measure, analyze, improve, control. It is generally used for improving the system for existing processes falling below specification and looking for incremental improvement. The Six Sigma DMADV process is define, measure, analyze, design, verify. It is used to develop new processes or products at Six Sigma quality levels. It can also be employed if a current process requires more than just incremental improvement. Both of these Six Sigma processes are executed by Six Sigma Green Belts and Six Sigma Black Belts, and are overseen by Six Sigma Master Black Belts.

The companies that achieve the greatest benefits from Six Sigma leverage the linkages between people, processes, customer, and culture. A Six Sigma defect is defined as anything outside of customer specifications. A Six Sigma opportunity is then the total quantity of chances for a defect. Process sigma can easily be calculated using a Six Sigma calculator.