According to the 2011 J. D. Power and Associates Reports, Lexus models have the fewest quality problems in the industry, with just 73 problems per 100 vehicles. Honda and Acura products follow with 86 and 89 problems per 100 vehicles.
a. Using the calculator at www.databison.com/index.php/six-sigma-calculator-in-excel/(last accessed 1/24/12), calculate failure rate, accuracy rate, and current and long-term sigma levels for each of the three companies.
b. Why would the sigma levels tend to be higher in the long- term?
c. Why is the information provided by these calculations not totally helpful?