1. What is DPMO?

DPMO (Defects Per Million Opportunities) is a Six Sigma metric that represents the number of defects in a process per one million opportunities. It's a standardized way to compare process performance across different organizations or industries.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the DPMO formula:

Where:

• \( Defects \) — Total number of defects found
• \( Opportunities \) — Total number of opportunities for defects

Explanation: DPMO normalizes defect rates by considering both the actual defects and the total opportunities for defects to occur.

3. Importance of DPMO Calculation

Details: DPMO is crucial for Six Sigma quality initiatives as it provides a standardized way to measure process performance and compare it to Six Sigma benchmarks (3.4 DPMO = Six Sigma level).

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total number of defects observed and the total number of opportunities for defects. Both values must be positive integers (opportunities must be at least 1).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between DPU and DPMO?
A: DPU (Defects Per Unit) counts defects per unit produced, while DPMO accounts for multiple opportunities for defects within each unit.

Q2: What DPMO corresponds to Six Sigma?
A: 3.4 DPMO is considered Six Sigma level performance (3.4 defects per million opportunities).

Q3: How is DPMO related to Sigma level?
A: DPMO can be converted to a Sigma level using statistical tables that account for the 1.5 sigma shift in long-term processes.

Q4: What's a good DPMO target?
A: This varies by industry, but generally:
- 3 Sigma: 66,807 DPMO
- 4 Sigma: 6,210 DPMO
- 5 Sigma: 233 DPMO
- 6 Sigma: 3.4 DPMO

Q5: Can DPMO be greater than 1,000,000?
A: Yes, if the number of defects exceeds the number of opportunities (which indicates extremely poor quality).