The human race has made giant strides in manufacturing the goods needed not only to survive, but also to make our lives easier and more efficient. Since the beginning of history, man has made the tools he needed to survive or gain complete advantage. In the not so distant past, around 100 years ago, we had skilled craftsmen with specific skills and talents. In a small town you would have a blacksmith, tailor, farmer, etc. Each of these people acquired their skills over years of learning and the objects they made were unique. Their processes often took months or even years. Since that time, our society has moved from crafts to assembly lines. Even today we have robotic manufacturing, which replaces humans and increases safety and productivity. We have not yet eliminated humans from the manufacturing environment and companies are still seeking to achieve better results. Six Sigma, which is Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Lean Manufacturing which focuses on waste reduction, have helped achieve this goal. We'll look at the origins of these two tools, the first companies to use them, the theory behind each, and the future role they will play in how we produce the products of our everyday world. In order to understand the concepts of Six Sigma, certain terminology must be known. Therefore, a list of terms commonly associated with Six Sigma is provided: - Sigma – A statistical term used to represent standard deviation. (“Six Sigma Basics”) – Standard Deviation – A measure of variation in a given data set. (“Six Sigma Basics”) – Defect – A nonconformity present in the output that exceeds customer satisfactory limits. (“Basics of Six Sigma”) - DPMO – Def...... middle of paper ...... is related to Six Sigma. Black belts apply Six Sigma methods and tools, often working on multiple projects at once. Their main role is the execution of the Six Sigma project. Finally, there are the Master Black Belts who are experts in all things Six Sigma. They act as teachers and guides for black and green belts. They work with senior management and all departments in an organization to define their roles and responsibilities. (“Six Sigma Basics”). Six Sigma, in practice, has the basic methodology of DMAIC. DMAIC is an acronym for Define Opportunity, Measure Performance, Analyze Opportunity, Improve Performance, and Monitor Performance. Works Cited 1.) Akpose, Wole, Dr. “A History of Six Sigma.” A history of Six Sigma. IEEE, December 2010. Web. December 5, 2013.2.) “The Basics of Six Sigma”. The basics of Six Sigma. Rural Technology Services, 2012. Web. December 6. 2013.