Use this Six Sigma Calculator to determine the Defects Per Million Opportunities (DPMO) for your business operations. Ideal for quality control professionals and operations managers seeking to improve process efficiency.
Calculator
Results
Data Source and Methodology
All calculations are based on the standard Six Sigma methodologies. For further reading, consult the Six Sigma Handbook.
The Formula Explained
The DPMO is calculated using the formula: DPMO = (Defects / (Units Produced × Opportunities per Unit)) × 1,000,000
Glossary of Terms
- Units Produced: Total items manufactured or processed.
- Defects: Number of defective items found.
- Opportunities per Unit: Potential defect opportunities in each unit.
How It Works: A Step-by-Step Example
Consider a production batch of 10,000 units with 200 defects and 5 opportunities per unit. The DPMO is calculated as follows: (200 / (10,000 × 5)) × 1,000,000 = 4,000.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Six Sigma?
Six Sigma is a set of techniques and tools for process improvement, aimed at reducing defects and improving quality.
How do I use this calculator?
Enter the total units produced, defects found, and opportunities per unit to calculate the DPMO.
What is DPMO?
DPMO stands for Defects Per Million Opportunities, a measure of process performance.
Why is DPMO important?
DPMO provides a standardized way to measure and compare the quality of processes.
Can this calculator be used for any industry?
Yes, the Six Sigma methodology is applicable across various industries for process improvement.
Formula (LaTeX) + variables + units
','
- No variables provided in audit spec.
- NIST — Weights and measures — nist.gov · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://www.nist.gov/pml/weights-and-measures - FTC — Consumer advice — consumer.ftc.gov · Accessed 2026-01-19
https://consumer.ftc.gov/
Last code update: 2026-01-19
- Initial audit spec draft generated from HTML extraction (review required).
- Verify formulas match the calculator engine and convert any text-only formulas to LaTeX.
- Confirm sources are authoritative and relevant to the calculator methodology.