What is the average sigma level of an American company?

In the context of process quality and performance, the average sigma level of an American company is commonly understood to be around 3. This sigma level indicates that the process produces approximately 66,807 defective items per million opportunities, translating to a 93.32% success rate.

Achieving a sigma level of 4 or higher denotes a significant improvement in quality and efficiency, where processes are much more reliable and defects are reduced drastically. While it is possible for some companies to operate at a higher sigma level—signifying high levels of quality and a very low number of defects—most American companies typically hover around the average sigma level of 3.

Understanding this benchmark helps organizations set realistic goals in their quality improvement initiatives and recognize the gap between their current performance and desired outcomes, guiding them in their Six Sigma projects.