Six Sigma is a suite of quality management initiatives designed to reduce variability in process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects. A process that achieved a Six Sigma rating would produce only 3.4 defects per million cycles. Six Sigma projects have much in common with lean programs, but they have a clear focus on achieving quantifiable financial returns and are often led by champions in the approach who are accredited in the use of Six Sigma tools and techniques, e.g. ‘black belts’.