What is the Six Sigma used as methodology for quality? Is there any other popular methodology being used?

Hello Goharr, the word six sigma may look very different but in simple and few words it’s a measure of quality which strives for perfection which eliminates the defects, according to 6S it should not produce more then 3.4 defects/per million outputs. It was first used by Motorola...

Probably you want to ask, "Why" is 6 sigma used. Six sigma is a set of (I will like to say rules but...) predefined definitive template for getting the best quality of work products on completion. As Kiran already mentioned about DMAIC and DFSS, i will not emphasize it more. But it is proven with time and again, that if the project follows the Six sigma approach for Development (not just software products, but more...) , the product comes out with a better quality, good documentation, better reliability. Since, i personally have undergone through this process , i am able to appreciate it more.

The are other processes as well, which has already been mentioned before me. There are defnitely different measures of measuring the quality of process. but six sigma is universal and can be applied to any work product. Hope this helps.

The three key elements of quality which is customer, process and employee, so everything from a product to organization to remain world class will focus on these 3 key elements of quality. In simple terms, Six Sigma quality performance means no more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities. Where it avoids the deviation from the ideal level of operation...And this can be achieved by


1. Use of teams that are assigned well-defined projects that have direct impact on the organization's bottom line.
2. Training in "statistical thinking" at all levels and providing key people with extensive training in advanced statistics and project management. These key people are designated black belts,green belts.
3. Emphasis on the DMAIC approach (define, measure, analyze, improve and control) to problem solving.
4. A management environment that supports these initiatives as a business strategy.


Other than Six sigma many of them also use methods like CMM,CMMI,Three sigma and others