The human race has made great strides in producing goods necessary not only to survive, but to make our lives simpler and more efficient. Since the dawn of recorded history, man has created the tools he needed to survive or gain a complete advantage. In the not too distant past, about 100 years, we had skilled craftsmen who had specific skills and talents. In a small town you would have a blacksmith, a tailor, a farmer, etc. Each of these people learned their skills through years of apprenticeship, and the objects they made were unique. Their processes often took months or even years to complete. Since these times we as a society have moved from craftsmanship to assembly lines. Even now we have robotic production, which replaces humans and increases safety and productivity. We have not yet eliminated humans from the production environment and companies are always looking to obtain greater profits. Six Sigma, which is statistical process control (SPC) and Lean Manufacturing which focuses on reducing waste, have helped achieve this goal. We'll examine the origins of these two tools, the first companies that used them, the theory behind each, and the future role they will play in how we produce the products of our everyday world. To understand the concepts of Six Sigma, you need to know some terminology. Therefore a list of terms commonly associated with Six Sigma is provided:- Sigma – A statistical term used to represent a standard deviation. (“Six Sigma Basics”)- Standard Deviation – A measure of variation in a given set of data. ("Six Sigma Basics") - Defect - A nonconformity present in the output that exceeds the customer's satisfactory limits. (“Six Sigma Basics”)- DPMO – Def...... half of the document ...... ties into Six Sigma. Black belts apply Six Sigma methods and tools, often working on multiple projects at the same time. Their main role is Six Sigma project execution. Finally there are the Master Black Belts who are experts on all things Six Sigma. They act as teachers and guides for the black and green belts. They work with top management and all departments of an organization to define their roles and responsibilities. ("Six Sigma Basics"). Six Sigma, in practice, has the main methodology of DMAIC. DMAIC is the acronym for Define Opportunity, Measure Performance, Analyze Opportunity, Improve Performance and Control Performance. Works Cited 1.) Akpose, Wole, Dr. “A History of Six Sigma.” A history of Six Sigma. IEEE, December 2010. Web. 05 December 2013.2.) “Six Sigma Basics.” Six Sigma Basics. RuralTech Services, 2012. Web. 06 December. 2013.