What does DPMO stand for in quality management?

DPMO stands for "Defects per million opportunities" in quality management. This metric is crucial as it helps organizations measure the quality of a process or product by expressing the number of defects relative to the total number of opportunities for a defect to occur, multiplied by one million.

Using DPMO allows organizations to understand the extent of defects in their processes, which is essential for identifying areas for improvement. It provides a standard way to gauge performance across different processes or products, facilitating comparisons and benchmarking. A lower DPMO indicates a higher quality process, driving organizations toward striving for excellence and continuous improvement. This metric is commonly used in Six Sigma methodologies to evaluate process capability and quality levels.

The other options presented do not capture the correct definition of DPMO, emphasizing the importance of understanding both the terminology and its application in quality management practices.