Quality & Metrology worked example
Sigma Shift with short-term sigma of 11 sigma: a worked example
Push short-term sigma up to 11 sigma and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. Use it to translate short-term capability into the long-term sigma level used in Six Sigma reporting.
The inputs for this scenario
- Short-term sigma (Zst): 11 sigma (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 4.5)
- Sigma shift (typically 1.5σ): 1.5 sigma (unchanged)
- Additional process drift: 0 sigma (unchanged)
- Further sigma adjustment: 0 sigma (unchanged)
Working through the calculation
- Applying the documented formula (Total shift = sigma shift + additional drift + further adjustment) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
- At this operating point the engine returns 9.5 sigma for long-term sigma (zlt), the number this scenario is built around.
- At this operating point the engine returns 1.5 value for total sigma shift.
- At this operating point the engine returns 11 value for short-term sigma (zst).
- At this operating point the engine returns 86.36 % for utilization.
How this compares with the baseline
- Against the tool's baseline example, where short-term sigma sits at 4.5 sigma and the headline result is 3 sigma, this scenario comes in 217% above the baseline at 9.5 sigma.
- It subtracts a total sigma shift (the 1.5σ convention plus any additional drift you specify) from short-term sigma to give the long-term sigma level Zlt. The value of this scenario is the size of the gap it exposes: that gap, priced out over a year, is the budget you can justify spending to close it.
Results at a glance
- Long-term sigma (Zlt): 9.5 sigma (headline result)
- Total sigma shift: 1.5 value
- Short-term sigma (Zst): 11 value
- Utilization: 86.36 %
Run it with your numbers
- Every input above is editable in the live Sigma Shift calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.
Last reviewed 2026-05-12.