Which one of the following expresses the defect level for a process?

The choice of DPMO, or defects per million opportunities, is the correct answer as it quantitatively expresses the defect level within a process. This metric is widely used in Six Sigma methodologies and provides a standardized way to gauge process performance. It allows organizations to understand the number of defects in relation to the total number of opportunities for defects to occur, which means that it can effectively illustrate the quality of the process performance across different contexts or scales.

Using DPMO helps organizations establish baseline performance levels and set improvement goals. By focusing on opportunities rather than just the number of units produced, DPMO gives a clearer picture of quality issues and helps in identifying specific areas for process improvement. This metric can drive strategic decisions and resource allocation aimed at reducing defects and enhancing overall efficiency.

In contrast, the other options provide incomplete or inconsistent measures of defect levels. For example, DRUW focuses on a specific unit of work without standardizing defect reporting on a broader scale, while DRPO speaks to defects per opportunity but does not clarify the context of a million opportunities, making comparisons more challenging. The final option, which involves percent waste and rework, does not address defect levels directly and can lead to confusion regarding its implications in terms of quality assessment. Therefore,