Quality and Safety in Healthcare, Part XCII: Introduction to Six Sigma.

ABSTRACT Six Sigma is a methodology to diminish variation and errors and improve efficiency, quality, value, and profit, using certain defined steps and statistical analysis. For existing products and services, the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) acronym is used to stand for its steps. For new products and services, the Design for Six Sigma methodology is used. The goal of Six Sigma is to reduce the number of defects to no more than 3.4 for every million opportunities.